Honoring those who gave their lives... Memorial Day ceremonies hosted by Hallettsville’s VVA/VFW
The Vietnam Veterans of America Lone Star Chapter 854 and the Lavaca Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6382 conducted Memorial Day ceremonies Monday morning with Kevin Bright delivering the keynote address
The 17th annual ceremony was emceed by VVA Post 854 President Earl Cummings, with VVA Post 854 member Jim Paar conducting the opening prayer.
Steven Drozd, VFW Post 6382 commander, led the Pledge of Allegiance with Hallettsville CCA executive director, JoAnn Shimek leading in the singing of the National Anthem.
Bright began his speech by saying there are three days during the year when veterans are honored which include Armed Forces Day, Veterans Day and Memorial Day.
“Armed Forces Day is when we honor those who wear the uniform. Veterans Day is when we honor those who hung up the uniform and Memorial Day is when we honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice,” Bright said.
Bright said the first widespread observance was held on May 30, 1868, with Gen. James Garfield, later elected the 20th president of the United States, speaking at Arlington National Cemetery on that day
Bright quoted a part of Garfield’s speech saying, “For love of county they accepted death and those resolved all deaths and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue.”
Bright said after that speech, about 5,000 people helped to decorate the graves of over 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers.
Bright also spoke about the oath a soldier takes when joining the military and defined every sentence of the oath.
Quoting the oath Bright said, “I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”
Bright said those taking the oath pledge truthfulness, loyalty, faith as well as to obey the orders of the President and officers. He said to take the oath requires discipline of the individual.
In closing, Bright talked about the importance of remembering those who died to keep us free, and in so doing, referred to the Book of Job.
“Job, Chapter 1, Verse 3, means to tell your children about it. Let your children tell the next generation, so we never forget,” Bright said of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
In closing the program, Shimek led the singing of “God Bless America,” followed by the Honor Guard’s rifle volley and the playing of “TAPS.”
A reading of the names of Lavaca County veterans who were killed in action in World War I, World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War were read by Sacred Heart Catholic School students Chloe Alex-Hartensteiner and Allshia Grahmann.
The Rev. Jim Herrington, pastor of the Salem Baptist Church in Ezzell, conducted the closing prayer
The laying of wreaths was taken to the Lavaca County Memorial on the Courthouse Square
Wreaths were provided by the Republican Women of the Yoakum Area, the Republican Party of Lavaca County, the VFW Post 6382 Auxiliary, and the American Legion Post 230 Auxiliary
Note: Because the American Legion Hall was having construction work done on its interior, the American Legion Hudgeons Post 230 chose not to conduct a Memorial Day ceremony this year.
