Veterans pay tribute to fallen comrades
POINT MARION – With prayer, flowers and music, officials began the 24th annual Albert Gallatin Regatta Saturday morning with two special services to pay tribute to fallen comrades. “This is to honor all veterans who lost their lives in all wars,’ explained Woodrow Hughes, who organized and acted as master of ceremonies for the services, held at 10 a.m. at Evergreen Cemetery and just before 11 a.m. at the Cheat River Bridge.
The American Legion, Post 449, with Dewey Hughes as commander, and Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 747, with John Roderick as commander, sponsored the services jointly. Members of both organizations and their ladies’ auxiliaries participated.
Woodrow Hughes surveyed the crowd that turned out at Evergreen Cemetery, noting, “It’s nice to see people show up to honor the veterans.’
As the ceremony started, Hughes welcomed the crowd before Ralph Lincoln, chaplain, gave an invocation and the Albert Gallatin Senior High School Band played the national anthem. Jeremy Kendall is band director while Jason Kendall is assistant director.
The Rev. Scott Teets, pastor of Fallen Timbers Church, spoke of the courage and valor of those who serve their country in military service.
“What greater love hath a man than he lay down his life for a friend – or his country,’ Rev. Teets said.
While speaking, Rev. Teets read from a speech previously delivered by Beth Chapman, state auditor for Alabama, that was harsh on people who criticized the government for going to war with Iraq.
In particular, the speech was critical of Hollywood actors who had offered to go to Iraq as human shields.
“Let us be the human shields of prayer, encouragement and support for the president, our troops and their families, and our country,’ Rev. Teets read. “May God bless America, the land of the free, the home of the brave and the greatest country on the face of this earth.’
After the band played “God Bless America,’ representatives of the ladies’ auxiliaries placed a wreath of flowers at the cemetery. They included Mary Smith of the VFW, Faye Burnett of the VFW and American Legion, and Melissa Garlem, 8, and her sister Kimberly Garlem, 5, of Virginia who came to Fayette County to visit relatives for the holiday.
An honor guard fired a salute while AG band members Molly Newman and Jonathan Pleban played the haunting but beautiful “Taps.’
Newman and Pleban repeated “Taps’ at the Cheat River Bridge after the auxiliary representatives dropped a wreath into the water to honor, as Hughes noted, “fallen comrades who lost their lives at sea.’
The honor guard and Lincoln were included in the group that marched to the center of the bridge for the ceremony.
At both services, Hughes told the crowd, “These flowers may wither but the spirit with which they are assembled will remain for the end of time.’