VFW Holds Memorial Day Ceremony
Veterans, their families and other civilians filled the bleachers while attending the Memorial Day ceremony at the Union County Courthouse, sponsored by Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2413.
The program was emceed by VFW 2413 Commander George Fennell. To start the ceremony, Fennell called for everyone to stand as they lowered the American and state flags to halfstaff. Following that, American Legion Chaplain Kenneth Clemons said a prayer for fallen veterans.
Attendees remained with hands over hearts as El Dorado High School student Camden Sanford sang a stirring rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. Before opening the floor to speakers, West Side Christian School student Cade Johnson recited a poem he wrote about veterans.
Fennell took some time to speak about the sacrifice veterans make by signing-up for the armed forces. To date, over one million American soldiers have died throughout America’s military history. Memorial Day has been an official federal holiday since 1971; prior to that, Americans celebrated Decoration Day, which commemorated Union soldiers that died during the Civil War. A Memorial Day holiday honoring soldiers from all United States wars was passed by Congress during the Vietnam War.
VFW Auxiliary President Marilyn Pepper pinned ‘Buddy Poppies’ to attendees’ lapels before the ceremony. VFW Buddy Poppies came to be a symbol of remembrance for veterans in 1923, when the VFW assigned disabled veterans to assemble the poppies in order to provide the vets with jobs. The poppy is the official memorial flower of the VFW.
Pepper spent time at the ceremony discussing various programs her organization sponsors, focusing mainly on youth education efforts.
“They need to know what part you played in history,” Pepper said. She said that the VFW and Auxiliary Posts are there to support veterans, children and the community. Former VFW Commander Jerry Earnest shared stories about a few veterans throughout history that have inspired him. He mentioned 2nd Lt. Frank Luke, a World War I aviator that was the first pilot to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. Earnest also talked about 1st Lt. Sharon Lane, the only female nurse to be killed in Vietnam by hostile fire.
“She was where she wanted to be and that was with wounded soldiers,” Earnest said of Lane.
Earnest gave a special thank you to the veterans, their families and the Gold Star families in the audience. Gold Star families are the relatives of members of the United States military who have died in battle.
“These people remember their fallen loved ones every day,” Earnest said. He finished with a message directed towards the veterans in the audience: “We are here because of you.”
Keynote speaker Henry Kinslow spoke next. He shared the histories of three veterans he knew during their lives. Kinslow said that he would tell these stories to foreign exchange students he and his wife hosted when the children asked about United States military history.
Kinslow related the stories of his father, Bill Kinslow, who served in the Navy during World War II, Bob Blasker, a World War II pilot and Emmett Gathright, a WWII veteran that served in the U.S. Army in both Japan and Germany.
Kinslow closed his speech with good news. He said that the National Guard Armory would soon bear the name of Rufus N. Garrett once again. The Armory is named after Garrett, but since its move to its most recent location on North Calion Rd., it has not had a sign with his name.
Fennell took the stage again, this time to honor a veteran in the audience. He asked the audience to take note of Dr. Tom Johnson, a Vietnam vet that served as a B-52 navigator. After the ceremony, Johnson joked that the call out was payback from Fennell for an early morning phone call Johnson made to him to make sure that the ceremony was still on.
The ceremony closed with El Dorado police officer Gerid Ardwin playing taps, followed by a somber moment as the flags at the courthouse were raised back to full-staff.
Danny Terry, a Vietnam veteran, was in attendance at yesterday’s ceremony.
“It was great, I think they did a great job,” Terry said. Terry was a sergeant in Vietnam and said he built fire bases up to the Cambodian border. He drove to the ceremony in a WWII-era Jeep, and said that he has one from each war that he works on as a hobby.
“I don’t paint them, though,” he said, laughing.
Terry wore his brother Welton’s shirt to the ceremony and said his brother was also in the Army, serving for several years before leaving the service in 1964. The two moved to El Dorado after their service and started Hamilton Radiator, which has been open for 41 years.
Johnson agreed that the ceremony was great. Attendees approached him to thank him for his service and he and Fennell could be seen laughing together as VFW members headed to the Post on Industrial Rd. for lunch.