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Honoring heroes
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| American Legion rider Master Sgt. Gene Williams searches for the names of fallen comrades on the Veterans Memorial Wall at the VA Medical Center. ‘This means everything t o me,’ Master Sgt. Williams said. ‘I hope my generation will be so honored as the World War II generation.’ JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter |
Veterans recognized for sacrifice, service
By JEFF M. HARDISON
jhardison@lakecityreporter.com
The specter of war was shared Monday: Recalling a bit of the terror of armed conflict was part of a local ceremonial remembrance on the part of veterans who helped keep America a free country.
At 11 a.m. 90 years ago today, World War I ended with the signing of an armistice. Armistice Day, which became the national holiday known as Veterans Day in 1954, was celebrated a day early on the front yard of the VA Medical Center in Lake City.
Frank Tracy, commander of the Florida chapter of the Disabled American Veterans, was the keynote speaker at the VA. He centered his presentation on Frank W. Buckles, who is 107.
Buckles was 16 when he joined the U.S. Army, Tracy said, to fight in World War I, “the war to end all wars.”
Buckles is known as the last living “doughboy” from that war.
Tracy is a World War II U.S. Air Force veteran who was a B-17 bomber gunner in Europe from 1942 to 1945. Tracy spent more than a year as a prisoner of war in a camp near the Baltic Sea.
“The saddest thing of World War I,” Tracy said Buckles once told him, “was that after the war, nobody seemed to care.”
Buckles enlisted in 1917. In 1918, he was trained as an ambulance driver, Tracy said. Among his training, Buckles learned to use a belt to strap wounded soldiers to his back and crawl back to the trenches.
Buckles saw the devastating injuries inflicted on soldiers who charged machine-gun fire in the midst of artillery fire, Tracy said.
“Had America not entered the war,” Tracy reported Buckles said, “the Allies would not have won.”
Tracy noted that Veterans Day is a day to honor all veterans. He said the POW-MIA flag flying at the VA Medical Center is a reminder about veterans who are missing in action as well as the prisoners of wars.
The United States must continue seeking its missing in action soldiers, Tracy said. In the war in Iraq, “there is no honor among our enemies,” Tracy said. Bodies of beheaded soldiers are being found and the remains are identified.
The program opened Monday with a presentation of the colors by Columbia High School’s Army Jr. Reserve Officer Training Corps Color Guard: Cadet Maj. Mark Horman, Cadet Capt. Johnathan Rodgers, Cadet Capt. Julia Stoddard and Cadet 1st Sgt. Heather Byrnes.
Master Sgt. Gratten McGroarty teaches the CHS Army JROTC, and he led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Richardson Middle School Chorale Ensemble, directed by Christy Robertson, sang the National Anthem, “God Bless America,” and “Song for the Unsung Hero.”
Chaplain Larry Kendrick of the VA Medical Center gave the invocation. Maureen Wilkes, acting associate director of North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System introduced Tracy.
John Lehman recited a poem about the American flag.
American Legion Post 54 of Fernandina Beach sent 15 of its motorcycle riders — veterans — across 180 miles of highway to present checks for $350 and $250 to the VA Medical Center. American Legion Riders Chapter 54 Director Tom Gora led the motorcyclists.
At 11 a.m. 90 years ago today, World War I ended with the signing of an armistice. Armistice Day, which became the national holiday known as Veterans Day in 1954, was celebrated a day early on the front yard of the VA Medical Center in Lake City.
Frank Tracy, commander of the Florida chapter of the Disabled American Veterans, was the keynote speaker at the VA. He centered his presentation on Frank W. Buckles, who is 107.
Buckles was 16 when he joined the U.S. Army, Tracy said, to fight in World War I, “the war to end all wars.”
Buckles is known as the last living “doughboy” from that war.
Tracy is a World War II U.S. Air Force veteran who was a B-17 bomber gunner in Europe from 1942 to 1945. Tracy spent more than a year as a prisoner of war in a camp near the Baltic Sea.
“The saddest thing of World War I,” Tracy said Buckles once told him, “was that after the war, nobody seemed to care.”
Buckles enlisted in 1917. In 1918, he was trained as an ambulance driver, Tracy said. Among his training, Buckles learned to use a belt to strap wounded soldiers to his back and crawl back to the trenches.
Buckles saw the devastating injuries inflicted on soldiers who charged machine-gun fire in the midst of artillery fire, Tracy said.
“Had America not entered the war,” Tracy reported Buckles said, “the Allies would not have won.”
Tracy noted that Veterans Day is a day to honor all veterans. He said the POW-MIA flag flying at the VA Medical Center is a reminder about veterans who are missing in action as well as the prisoners of wars.
The United States must continue seeking its missing in action soldiers, Tracy said. In the war in Iraq, “there is no honor among our enemies,” Tracy said. Bodies of beheaded soldiers are being found and the remains are identified.
The program opened Monday with a presentation of the colors by Columbia High School’s Army Jr. Reserve Officer Training Corps Color Guard: Cadet Maj. Mark Horman, Cadet Capt. Johnathan Rodgers, Cadet Capt. Julia Stoddard and Cadet 1st Sgt. Heather Byrnes.
Master Sgt. Gratten McGroarty teaches the CHS Army JROTC, and he led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Richardson Middle School Chorale Ensemble, directed by Christy Robertson, sang the National Anthem, “God Bless America,” and “Song for the Unsung Hero.”
Chaplain Larry Kendrick of the VA Medical Center gave the invocation. Maureen Wilkes, acting associate director of North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System introduced Tracy.
John Lehman recited a poem about the American flag.
American Legion Post 54 of Fernandina Beach sent 15 of its motorcycle riders — veterans — across 180 miles of highway to present checks for $350 and $250 to the VA Medical Center. American Legion Riders Chapter 54 Director Tom Gora led the motorcyclists.
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Jay wrote on Nov 11, 2008 11:40 AM: