In My Own Words

I’m looking forward to the Veteran’s Day ceremony on the courthouse lawn in Ashland City tomorrow. One of my favorite parts (which generally brings tears to my eyes) is when students from Ashland City Elementary who have parents deployed lead the crowd in reciting the pledge of allegiance. Our local politicians will of course have a few words to say (or a lot of words, depending on how full of hot air they happen to be when it’s their turn), followed by a couple of patriotic musical numbers by Cheatham County Central High School band, and a medley of patriotic songs performed by the chorus from Cheatham Middle School.

All of the county’s veterans who have come for the ceremony will line up, then walk to the front of the courthouse to be greeted by local “dignitaries” (as far as I’m concerned, it is the veterans who are the dignitaries…that’s my opinion, and it ought to be everybody’s.) They will each state their name and say when and where they served, to a round of applause from the audience. The two veterans who can still wear the uniform they wore back when they were active duty will stand proud and tall in those uniforms as our rotund county mayor pontificates on how proud they must be that they can still fit in their uniforms. One of those veterans, Fred Enters, served in the Navy in the Vietnam War. The other, Hadley Williams, served in the Air Force during the Korean War. They do look quite fine in those uniforms, after all these years. I will, of course, be taking pictures.

Once all the speechifying is done and all of the Veterans have been introduced and properly applauded for their service, quiet will descend on the crowd. A beautiful red, white, and blue wreath will be carried somberly by one of our Vietnam Veterans to be placed at the Fallen Heroes Memorial near the flagpole. After the wreath is placed, Taps will be played, and not a soul will move a muscle or utter a sound until the last mournful note has faded away.

The crowd starts milling around, people seeking out the Veterans that we’ve gathered to honor, in order to shake their hand, give them a hug, and thank them again for serving our country. As the spectators make their way back to their cars, the Veterans head over to the Methodist Church a block over from the courthouse for a meal and fellowship, compliments of the local American Legion. That’s when I will walk back to my office, a couple of blocks from the courthouse, while I wonder why my coworkers don’t attend…

And that, my friends, is how I plan to spend Veteran’s Day. Whatever else you may do tomorrow, be sure to thank a Veteran! After all, it is because of our Veterans and their fallen brothers and sisters in arms that we have the freedoms that we have.

The placing of the wreath Veteran's Day 2008. Archie Cannon had the honor.