Police station holds first Veterans Day flag-raising event
GENTRY — Veterans of America’s wars were honored Friday at a special flag-raising ceremony held at the Gentry Police Station. The special event was timed to occur at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the time when hostilities were to cease due to the signing of the armistice between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiègne in France.
Armistice Day, now known as Veterans Day, is commemorated every year on November 11 and has been expanded to remember the veterans of all U.S. wars.
After words from Gentry Mayor Kevin Johnston and Gentry American Legion post commander, Marie Wilbanks, Gentry school resource officer Barbara Duffney and Gentry patrol officer Chase Robison, both veterans of the U.S. Marine Corps, raised the U.S. flag at the police station and saluted the flag at the special Veterans Day ceremonies.
Following the flag raising, Wilbanks, together with youth from the American Heritage Troop AR 1102 sponsored by Victory Baptist Missionary Church, led those present in the pledge of allegiance.
Plans are to make the flag-raising ceremony an annual Veterans Day event to remember and honor those who fought to preserve America’s freedoms.