Monday, May 20, 2024
Young Marines: The Parker County Young Marines hold the flags while Springtown High School choir students sing the National Anthem at the city of Springtown’s Memorial Day ceremony on May 28 at Veteran’s Memorial Park.
Keynote: Dennis Thompson was the keynote speaker at the city of Springtown’s Memorial Day ceremony on May 28 at Veteran’s Memorial Park. He served in the U.S. Army in the Finance Office of the 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam.
Wreath: Gunnery Sgt. Verne Bell places and salutes a wreath at the city of Springtown’s Memorial Day ceremony on May 28 at Veteran’s Memorial Park.
Amazing Grace: Bailey Allen, a recently graduated senior at Springtown High School, sang “Amazing Grace” at the city of Springtown’s Memorial Day ceremony on May 28 at Veteran’s Memorial Park.
Listening: Michele Chandler Kelley, Rhonda McRae and Janine Caves listen as Springtown High School band director Scot McPhetrige plays “Taps” on the trumpet during the city of Springtown’s Memorial Day ceremony.
As a recording of “God Bless America” played during Springtown’s Memorial Day service, the audience sounded off in a chorus of sniffles during an emotional part of the ceremony.
Rhonda McRae, whose son Cpl. James Heath McRae died during military service, spoke during the service about not wanting her son’s sacrifice to be forgotten. McRae participated in the city committee’s fundraising efforts to create the Veteran’s Memorial Park, where the Memorial Day ceremony was held Saturday.
“With this Memorial Park, we have made it our mission to make sure that these heroes, our heroes, will never be forgotten,” McRae said during the service.
Military families were honored with red carnations if their loved one was killed in action or with a white carnation for loved ones who are veterans or active-duty service members.
The keynote speaker, U.S. Army veteran Dennis Thompson, choked up himself while talking about the risks involved for his military family.
“I played a very small part in (the Vietnam War), but like my grandfather and my uncles, I am proud to say that I served my country,” Thompson said. “Our family is fortunate to not have lost one of its members to war, but we all served knowing that losing our life for our country was a very (real) possibility.”
Thompson encouraged the audience to remember those who sacrificed their lives during military service as well as their families.
“My prayer today is that we never forget those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and that we always remember that freedom is not free,” he said. “Memorial Day is just one day out of the year but let us all pray for the members of our military and their families for the entire year.”
James Tidwell, who served in the Marine Corps in the 1960s, became emotional while talking about the ceremony afterward.
“You hear the stories, and you see these guys choking up, and I’m choking up myself,” he said. “It hurts them, and it hurts me, and I’m sure there are other listeners out there who had the same emotion.”
Tidwell thanked the city of Springtown for hosting the service and having the Veteran’s Memorial Park, which he called “money well spent.”
Mayor Greg Hood closed the service by asking the audience to reflect on the sacrifices made by those in the military.
“For many years, I have had the privilege of attending our annual Memorial Day ceremony, and each year, I am reminded that each of us owes a great debt of the men and women of our armed forces (who) have sacrificed their lives for our nation and for our freedoms,” Hood said.
