Veterans of the United States’ armed forces will be honored during several public ceremonies in Donley County over a four day period.
The first service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, November 9, by the Adamson-Lane Post 287 of the American Legion at the Rowe Cemetery near Hedley. Prior to the service, post members will place flags on the graves of 220 veterans buried in that cemetery, and the flags will remain there through November 11.
The Friday service will be conducted by members of the Legion, and William S. Thompson, who served in the US Army from 1984 to 1992, will deliver the address. Thompson received his officer’s commission and served in many positions within the Fourth Infantry Division, 56th Field Artillery Command and the Seventh Corps Support Group throughout his career. In November 1991, as a captain, his unit was deployed from Crailsheim, Germany, to Operation Desert Shield /Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia.
The program will also include a ceremony honoring those listed as Missing In Action or Prisoners of War.
Following the Rowe ceremony, Hedley ISD will honor veterans with a meal and special program. The address at the school will be given by Troy Wilson, who served three years on active duty in the Army as a medic. He served as a flight medic with the 507th Medical Evacuation Company, logging over 300 missions.
The Donley County Memorial Post 7782 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars will hold a special service at noon on Saturday, November 10, at War Memorial on the Courthouse Square.
The Clarendon Lions Club will put out US flags at local businesses on Monday, November 12.
The Clarendon Elementary School will have a service for veterans on Monday, November 12, at 12:15 p.m. in the Bronco Gym.
The final ceremony will be at Clarendon College on Monday, November 12, at 7 p.m. in the Harned Sisters Fine Arts Center Auditorium.
The Veterans’ Celebration will feature a Roll Call and Military Recognition for members of each branch of service. In addition, the Clarendon Community Choir will perform and taps will be played by Troy Wilson, a Vietnam War Veteran.
Ernie Houdashell, Randall County Judge and Vietnam War Veteran will be the guest speaker.
In 1966, Houdashell, a graduate of Hedley High School, joined the army to fight in Vietnam and served a s a helicopter mechanic. He served two tours in Vietnam, the second of which he volunteered for. During that second tour, he served as a gunner on a Huey helicopter and earned the prestigious Air Medal for his participation in 25 aerial missions in a period of six days.
He was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Randall County Judge Ted Wood in the summer of 2002 and was elected to that fall.
In 1991, as a response to protestors who were second guessing the first Gulf War, Houdashell was prompted to write a narrative from his heart entitled “Don’t Weep For Me,” about freedom, patriotism, and the military and war. Since that time he has been asked to read it at public events and he has recorded it on CD complete with a music background.
Refreshments will be provided after the celebration by the VFW Ladies Auxiliary. This program will honor veterans of all wars and everyone in the community is invited to attend.
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