Lt. Col. Vincent L. Jackson paid tribute to all veterans from all walks of life during the Veterans’ Day service at Calhoun City last week.
“Most American families have personal experience with military service. They, or someone in their family has served in the military,” Lt. Col. Jackson said. “Some of our veterans are easy to recognize. They wear uniforms, medals and ribbons. Most veterans, however, live among us quietly and anonymously. They are America’s own sons and daughters.”
“Who is a veteran?” Lt. Col. Jackson asked. “A veteran is an elderly gentleman sitting on a park bench who helped liberate Nazi concentration camps. A veteran is the grizzled service station mechanic who showed extraordinary courage at the 38th parallel in Korea.
“A veteran is the nurse taking care of newborns in a hospital nursery who once bandaged burned and bloody wounds at Da Nang.
“A veteran is a POW who returned home to face a culture he did not recognize and finds himself able to at last tell his story to his adult children and grandchildren.
“A veteran is a police officer driving her patrol car through the neighborhood who spent six months in Saudi Arabia making sure armored personnel carriers did not run out of fuel.
“A veteran is a college student who braved dozens of improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan to keep terrorists from reaching the shores of America.
“Veterans are part of our past, present and future. They work everywhere from the highest government offices, to the farmlands and every where in between. They are the backbone of this great nation.”
“On Veterans’ Day, we honor all people who served in our armed forces. They stand proudly in the timeline of history. Many heroes and visionary military leaders stand in this line of selfless service,” Lt. Col. Jackson said. “Some bear visible signs of their bravery and service – a missing limb, a jagged scar. Others carry inner signs – a pin holding a bone together, a piece of shrapnel in the way. Some carry the psychological and emotional scars of their service and deal with it daily.”
“Today, we offer special recognition to the veterans who faced the horrors of war and especially those who gave their lives in service to the nation. They and their families deserve our highest praise and eternal gratitude.”
Lt. Col. Jackson also saluted those who didn’t serve in war, but “played critical roles in caring for families” and all those who served in any branch of the military in both war and peace times.
Lt. Col. Jackson stressed the core values of the military – loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage.
“Today, these values are the cornerstone of all training service members receive and the standard by which behavior is measured,” he said. “These are the same values that shaped our military at Valley Forge, Normandy, the sands of Kuwait, the streets of Mogadishu, at check points in Bosnia and the deserts and mountains of Afghanistan.”
“To all our veterans, we say your contributions and acts of selfless service have made a profound difference in our world. We praise you, honor you, and thank you for your service.”
Special recognition was paid to World War II veterans. Don Shipp, of Big Creek, was the only one in attendance. He and his wife Dewey had the honor of placing the wreath at the Veterans’ monument on the Calhoun City Square.
The national anthem was sung by Charles Diamond and Bobby Hood. Betty Holland led the pledge of allegiance. Pastor Chad Logan delivered the opening and closing prayers. Mayor Amye Hill gave the official welcome with Rexanne Collins serving as program emcee. Hand written notes from Vardaman Elementary students were distributed to the veterans present thanking them for their service. Hal Reese, Jr. closed the program with the playing of “Taps” on his trumpet.