Houston County veterans hold Memorial Day Service
Houston County veterans hold Memorial Day Service
Photos by MIKE DAVIS
Story by TERESA N. SETTLE
Tennessee Express News Writer
Erin may be a small town, but it is full of community-oriented celebrations.
At Christmas, count on the parade and tree-lighting ceremony; In March, count
on the Irish Celebration.
And on Memorial Day each year, make plans to attend a short service on the
courthouse lawns hosted each year by local veterans.
This year's Memorial Day service was better than ever, according to many who
attended. Put on by the American Legion Post 73, along with local VFW Post
9689, the service was traditionally carried out from start to finish.
American Legion Commander Paul Moody welcomed attendees, some of whom brought
lawn chairs for the occasion.
"This is a special day," Moody said, referring to the remembrance of the
living and dead who have sacrificed their lives for the nation and for the sake
of freedom everywhere.
Chaplain Webb Mitchum then gave the invocational prayer.
"We pray for our service men and women in harm's way in Iraq and Afghanistan,"
Mitchum said. "We pray for the leaders of our country... for wisdom,
understanding, patience, and tolerance."
Mitchum also gave thanks for the new World War II memorial in Washington, D.C.
"It's been a long time coming," he prayed, "but it's been achieved and not
through government expense."
Mitchum mentioned freedom throughout the world, continuing by saying, "We pray
that the world might see that this is the intention of this great nation."
After the prayer, the American flag was raised slowly to the top of the
flagpole, then brought back down to half staff as the crowd solemnly watched,
hands over hearts or saluting.
Wreaths were placed in front of the war memorials on the lawn by the American
Legion and the VFW before the service was turned back over to Moody, who
mentioned the two gold-star mothers in Houston County. Back in WWII, mothers
placed a blue star in their window if they had a son fighting over in the war.
If their son died, the blue star was replaced with a gold star. Larry Steppee
and Phillip Warfield, both of Houston County, lost their lives overseas, and
their mothers are still living here.
Moody then read the names of the servicemen who had served in the various wars.
"Most of our veterans are very humble people," Moody said. He talked about the
heroes who are now still in harm's way fighting for the freedom of other
nations. He talked about trying to conclude this current war, adding, "It's a
war throughout all the world," because not everyone understands the desire for
freedom.
Moody mentioned the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. "We cannot predict the future," he
said, "but as long as man exists, there will be wars."
"We pray for peace. We are a peaceful people," he said, adding that "Our
nation was founded on the premise that we are created by God and we have
values." Among them, he cited freedom, liberty, peace, and the right to pursue
your dreams through the grace of God.
"We do not force our beliefs on others, but we do not retract our beliefs,
either," he said.
Moody then quoted Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, adding that even
though it was spoken during the Civil War, its words are still contemporary
today.
He also quoted Psalm 46, which he said reminds us that we are a nation under
God.
To conclude the service on a powerful note, the American Legion Honor Guard
fired their rifles three times, prior to the playing of taps.
Members of the Honor Guard include: Commander Ray Brotherton, Billy Ellingson,
Art Sloan, Jim Kupiec, Fred Wilson, and John Ed Bradley.
Playing taps on the trumpet was a recent Houston County High School graduate,
Paul Warren.
After the service, community members, friends, and family milled around on the
lawn.
"It's the best [Memorial Day] service I've been to," said Kathleen Rushing,
who attended with her son Darol. "My husband was in the second world war. He
went in at 18," she said, adding that he served three years of peacetime before
being recalled in Feb. 1941. Her son also served in the Air Force for four
years.
Francis Blair added, "I really enjoyed [Bro. Paul Moody's] sermon." Blair had
four sons who served in the Vietnam War.
The Gettysburg Address
delivered in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
by President Abraham Lincoln
November 19, 1863
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a
new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men
are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any
nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great
battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as
a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation
might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can
not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here,
have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will
little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what
they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the
unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It
is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us --
that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which
they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that
these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall
have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the
people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
The Holy Bible: King James Version. 2000.
Psalms 46
God Is Our Refuge and Strength
To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Al'amoth.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear,
though the earth be removed,
and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 though the waters thereof roar and be troubled,
though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.
Selah.
4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God,
the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her;
she shall not be moved:
God shall help her, and that right early.
6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved:
he uttered his voice, the earth melted.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Selah.
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD,
what desolations he hath made in the earth.
9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth;
he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder;
he burneth the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God:
I will be exalted among the heathen,
I will be exalted in the earth.
11 The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Selah.
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