200 assemble to honor sacrifices of veterans

Despite biting cold temperatures, approximately 200 residents assembled at the Donley County War Memorial to honor American veterans last Saturday.

The program of the third annual Veterans Day ceremony was scaled back because of the weather, but the solemnity of the occasion did not suffer.

Pastor Leonard Holt of the First Christian Church delivered the invocation. Boy Scout Troop 433 posted the colors, and singing groups from Hedley performed patriotic songs.

American Legion Post 287 Commander Jack Moreman spoke regarding the anniversary of the Korean War and the sacrifices made during that conflict.

Proclamations were read from Gov. George W. Bush and the Donley County Commissioners’ Court.

David McCoy, 100th District Judge, was the keynote speaker for the morning and called veterans his “passion.”

He spoke of the great battles of World War II, particularly Iwo Jima, and said the American veteran is the most important hero in our society. He said veterans often do not receive proper respect.

“There is something wrong in our country when a homeless Vietnam veteran sleeps in a cardboard box and a draft dodger sleeps in the White House.”

It is important for all Americans to remember the sacrifices that were made in those battles and to give all veterans the respect they are due, he said.

“When the need is over, we give them a medal. We give them a parade. We send them home, and we forget about them,” McCoy said of our nation’s treatment of veterans.

McCoy’s abbreviated his remarks because of the cold weather Saturday, but several people said later it was so good they wished he had delivered all of his address.

Following McCoy’s speech, Voice of Democracy contest winner Erica Smith, a junior at Clarendon High School, read her essay on the price of freedom.

The ceremony was closed with a benediction given by Brian Gochenour of the Church of Christ.

After the ceremony, the public placed flowers and flags near the names of loved ones at the memorial, and hot dogs were served to the community at the VFW Hall.