Services honor local veterans’ sacrifices

By Roger  Estlack & Cheryl Johnson, Clarendon Enterprise

The citizens of Donley County last week paid their respect to the veterans who have served America and secured freedom for all who live here.

The Adamson-Lane Post 287 of the American Legion held their annual service at the Veterans’ Memorial in Rowe Cemetery on Friday morning.

Doyle Messer conducted the ceremony and delivered the invocation. Following the posting of the colors, Andrea Musick sang the National Anthem, and T.C. Saye led the Pledge of Allegiance.

The featured speaker of the event was Gary Weatherly of Memphis. He graduated from Hedley High School in 1965 and served with the US Army from 1965 to 1968, during which time he served in Vietnam with the First Cavalry Division from November 1966 to November 1967. 

“I feel very fortunate to have grown up in a patriotic community like Hedley,” Weatherly said as he recalled how Vietnam veterans were welcomed home in Hedley with banquets when they were shunned in other parts of the country.

Weatherly said the military teaches responsibility and self-discipline, and he said he hoped today’s fighting men and women will be remembered for the good they are trying to do.

Clarendon VFW Post 7782 also held its annual Veterans Day Service on Friday at the Donley County War Memorial. 

The guest speaker was Joe McQuay, a 37-year veteran of the Marine Corps.  The Bronco Band played several patriotic selections during the ceremony.  Darrell Burton, pastor of the Martin Baptist Church gave the invocation.  Post Commander Larry Pettit led the ceremony.

McQuay recognized all branches of the military and the importance of thanking the vets who are still alive.  He also spoke about the generation now fighting in Iraq and how it is the soldier that gave us the rights of freedom, religion, speech, demonstration, and free trial.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the members of the Bronco Band laid flowers on the memorial.

Local veterans also enjoyed a meal prepared by the Clarendon High School home economics class Friday at noon.  The Clarendon Elementary children also presented a program to the vets and their guests.

A veterans’ program was also held at the Vera Dial Dickey Library at Clarendon College on Monday.