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Memorial Day Speech Know and Remember
During WW2 263 submarines conducted war
patrols in the Pacific against Japan. 52 were lost and remain on Eternal
Patrol. Remember
April 10, 1963
USS Thresher SSN
594 sinks in the Atlantic while conducting
sea trials. 129 Crew and shipyard personnel lost. Remember
May 22, 1969
USS
Scorpion,SSN-589. was lost with all
hands 400 miles southwest of the Azores islands. There were 99 sailors
onboard. Remember
August 26, 2021
13 U.S. service
members
die during a terrorist bombing in Afghanistan.
They were:
Navy Corpsman Max
Soviak of Berlin Heights, Ohio. His high
school football coach described him as fearless. He was 22.
Army Staff
Sergeant Ryan Knauss of Corryton,
Tennessee, was a member of the 82nd Airborne. He was 23.
Marine Staff
Sergeant Darin Hoover of Salt Lake City
was serving his third tour of duty in Afghanistan. He was 31.
Marine Sergeant
Johanny (JOE-honny) Rosario Pichardo
of Lawrence, Massachusetts, was a member of her brigade’s Female
Engagement Team. She was 25.
Marine Sergeant
Nicole Gee
of Sacramento,
California, posted an Instagram photograph of herself cradling an Afghan
baby and the caption, “I love my job,” just days before the attack. She
was 23.
Marine Lance Corporal Jared
Schmitz of St. Charles, Missouri, liked to play video
games, according to his father. He was 20.
Marine Lance
Corporal Dylan Merola of Cucamonga,
California, had been in Afghanistan for just more than a week. He
planned to attend college and study engineering. He was 20.
Marine Lance
Corporal Kareem Nikoui (nick who ē)
of Norco, California, served in Junior ROTC before joining the Marines.
He was 20.
Marine Corporal
Hunter Lopez
of Indio,
California, was the son of two Riverside Sheriff’s Department officers.
He was 22.
Marine Corporal
Humberto Sanchez
of Logansport,
Indiana, was on the homecoming court during his senior year in high
school. He was 22.
Marine Corporal. Daegan W. Page, of Omaha, Nebraska, a rifleman. A
Boy Scout and played hockey for Omaha Westside in the Omaha
Hockey Club. He was 23.
Marine Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, of Rio Bravo, Texas, a rifleman. He always told everyone that knew him
that he was going to become a US Marine. He was 20.
Marine Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, of Jackson, Wyoming, a rifleman. He had dreamed of being a Marine since
he was 3 years old. He was 20.
February 10, 1952
Air Force Major
George Andrew Davis, Junior, was a World War
II flying ace Led his last aerial patrol mission, near the Manchurian border. Major Davis spotted 12 enemy MIG-15 aircraft speeding toward friendly fighter bombers. He sped through the rear of the enemy formation and downed two enemy MIGs. Rather than evade the enemy, who by then had been concentrating fire upon his aircraft, he reduced his speed to engage a third MIG-15. It was during this engagement that he sustained a direct hit and lost his life.
Remember.
Not only are these diverse men and women forever in our hearts, but for
those who knew them, they are forever young.
They came from every background, yet they shared a common goal –
to serve America and make life better for others.
It was the same spirt that drove our Korean War veterans seventy
years ago.
From the American Revolution to the
Global War on Terrorism, more than one million American veterans have
made the Supreme Sacrifice. They died so that we could continue to
cherish the things they loved – God, country, and family.
That is why we are gathered here on
Memorial Day… to honor the memory of our fallen warriors who have given
everything for their country.
We are also reminded on this day, that
brave men and women have always stepped forward to take the oath of
allegiance as members of America’s armed forces, willing to fight and if
necessary, die for the sake of freedom.
In reflecting on the sacrifices of
their comrades during World War I, the founders of The American Legion
saw four common pillars as to why Americans so often answer their
nation’s call – even to the point of sacrificing their lives.
They do it to provide a strong national
defense – to keep America safe and secure against those enemies who
would destroy our American way of life.
They do it for their fellow comrades …
for those fighting by their side against all odds and for those who
eventually separate from the military but proudly claim their status as
veterans.
They do it for American core values of
God and country – family, patriotism, and our freedom to worship as we
please.
They do it for their children … so that
they can grow up in an America that is strong and free.
It is through this last pillar –
children – that we must continue to honor the spirit of these heroes. We
must share the legacies and tell the stories of those who are no longer
here.
Nearly 7,000 American men and women
have died while fighting the Global War on Terrorism. Many were parents.
The loss felt by these Gold Star
families is forever.
There are many tangible things we can
do to honor the service of our fallen heroes. Primarily, take care of
their loved ones. In some cases, this means providing financial
assistance to help their children obtain higher education.
Across this great country, The American
Legion and other Veterans Organizations are raising funds to ensure that
college education will be a reality for these families.
It is also why we wear the Poppy, a
symbol of hope that sprouted on a Belgian battlefield.
Memorial Day is about gratitude and
remembrance. It is about honoring the men and women who made it possible
for us to gather here today in peace.
But the reason that there is a Memorial
Day – the reason that we are gathered here – is to remember those who
made our way of life possible.
They truly are the guardians of our
freedom.
Please give thanks to all those who
have sacrificed.
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Attention Veterans No Special Announcements at this time Web Site updated on May 19th, 2022
Follow us on FACE BOOK The following are the
Face Book Pages for the
various Veterans Groups
For VFW Post 9116 in Columbus NC
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 The Two Military Service Posts in Polk County NC |
 Arlington Nation Cemetery |
The Very First
Vietnam Veterans
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 History of Bryant Homer Womack. Polk County's Medal of Honor Recipient. The Korean War Conflict. Includes a special video. The Womack Page |
 The Veterans Park Columbus, North Carolina Below are pictures of the festivities at the Veterans Park and the Parades plus history of the Veterans Park in Columbus, NC.
2015 ~ Veterans Day Parade
2019 ~ Veterans Day
Parade in Columbus, NC
2020 ~ The Veterans
Park War Memorials
2020 ~ Veterans Day
showing activities in both 2021 Veterans Day Parade in Columbus NC 2021 Honor Guard Firing Salute and Taps |
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and thus you are eligible for being a member of this
veterans group. 