Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

A joint Veterans Day Observance was held at the American Legion yesterday to honor the men and women who have served and those who have died in the Armed Forces of the United States of America.
A welcome note was spoken by Steve Sellers, commander of the American Legion, followed by the advancement of colors by Gene Maitland of the American Legion and Art Colyer of the VFW.
The national anthem was performed beautifully by the TAHS Pops Extension, directed by Mrs. Catherine Young. The group also performed two songs later in the ceremony in honor of our veterans, which included ‘Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier’ and ‘Lift up Your Voice America.’
The placing of the wreaths ceremony was conducted, as tradition, in two parts, the Anderson-Denny Post #4559-VFW led by President Alice Ewing, and Mary Dickson, Chaplain, and the Howard-Gardner Post #281-American Legion led by President Jean Nein, and Lou Shirk, Chaplain.
The roll call of the 97 area deceased that extended from WWI to the Vietnam conflict was read respectively by Harry Bennett, VFW, Fred Zanghi, American Legion, and Earl Bailey, VFW. The toller was Nick Leasure, VFW, and the placing of flowers and poppies was conducted by Sally Martinez, American Legion Auxiliary, Sue Wheland, American Legion, and Wayne Shirk, S.A.L.
The guest speaker for the ceremony was Cary Simpson, a veteran of World War II, who delivered a beautiful, but yet, powerful story and message to the crowd in attendance. Simpson’s speech touched many a heart and formed many a tear in the eyes of those who understood why this ceremony was being held on Veterans Day.
“Did some of you have a tear in your eyes when you thought about the 97 men’s names that were read off? Did any of you think what these persons might of been able to accomplish had they lived?” opened Simpson.
He continued with a story of a father and a young son walking through a cemetery around Memorial Day with the boy noticing all the beautiful flags, and the father attempting to explain all the flags saying, “The reason there are so many veterans is because this country made a couple big mistakes.”
Simpson then gave his message for Veterans Day, talking of the two big mistakes our country made. He spoke of the bully countries and how the United States is the policeman of the world. He spoke of heroes.
“The people that I’m talking about today they did survive a crash of a plane, they did survive being taken prisoner – the heroes are not just the ones who died, the heroes are the ones who lived,” exclaimed Simpson.
The two mistakes that our country made, according to Simpson, was that ‘you can’t live in isolation,’ and the second mistake was the politicians ‘did not allow the military to conduct the war.’
Along with many examples of these mistakes, Simpson spoke of those who lost their lives in the wars our country fought. The life these people did not get the chance to live.
“This is the risk that every one of us who raised our hand and said, ‘I solemnly swear,’ this is the risk that we take, but we believe that it is worth taking that risk,” stated Simpson.
Simpson ended his speech by going back to his story he told of the father and young son. The two were getting ready to walk out of the cemetery with the boy telling his father that he thought there were ‘just about enough flags, we don’t need anymore flags in the cemetery.’
The father looked at his son and replied, ‘Son, I think you’re right, we have just about enough flags, we don’t need that many more.’
A benediction was provided by Pastor T. Talbot-Moses of the First English Lutheran Church. The firing squad ended with their salute, conducted by William H. Moses, American Legion, Rick Maceno, S.A.L., Sam Wheland, American Legion, Bob Nein, American Legion, and Willie Martinez, American Legion.
At the end of the program, Sellers thanked Pops Extension, Simpson, Pastor Talbot-Moses and everyone else who had helped to make the ceremony possible. A meal was provided for everyone by the Ladies Auxiliary.
May all those who died protecting our country’s freedom be blessed by God and rest in peace, and for those who survived war and still continue to serve — thank you.
Thanks Mr. Simpson for the wonderful speech.

By Rick