Community pays tribute to veterans


Thursday, November 19, 2009
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Community pays tribute to veterans

By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer

Photos by Sue Watson and Barry Burleson

Loyal and true

Larry Lott, who served in the Navy from 1977 to 1998, salutes during the National Anthem November 11 on the courthouse square.

It was said by President Thomas Jefferson that eternal vigilance is the price of freedom. The city of Holly Springs celebrated Veterans Day last week, paying tribute to all those living and dead who have served their country in a branch of the military.

Bands, motorcycles, Shriners and ROTC Cadets, as well as police and fire service, joined in to help bring attention to veterans and to say “thank you.”

Bikers from Olive Branch, Holly Springs, Water Valley and the Ywahi Shriners from Olive Branch led the parade. Holly Springs High School marching band, Junior Ambassadors and Jr. ROTC, Galena School marching band, Collins-Hurdle VFW, Holly Springs police and fire departments and Hillcrest High School (Memphis) Jr. ROTC were represented.

In prayer
Veteran David Caldwell bows in prayer during the ceremony.

Veterans were welcomed by Holly Springs Mayor Andre’ DeBerry and Rep. Kelvin Buck, who provided a short speech.

Buck said the playing bands and flying flags “send chills down my spine.” A former U.S. Marine, he thanked all who have served, are serving, or will serve, “So we can enjoy freedom.”

“Many times they served and wondered if anybody cared,” Buck said. “We have to think about the reason we have a great country to live in and it is simply because of these men and women. Our veterans answered the call and went and did what they had to do to make our United States a free society. And a lot of other countries owe their freedom to our men and women.”

Buck said he looked in the eyes of men and women he helped train to get ready to go to Desert Storm in Iraq.

“There was a look in their eyes of uncertainty and fear. They wondered what they were getting themselves into,” he said. “They understood what service meant, the mission was accomplished and we stand here today as free as we want to be. We must not fail to recognize and understand the importance of their service. Freedom is not free.”

Former President Ronald Reagan said, “Freedom is the recognition that no single person, no single authority or government has a monopoly on the truth, but that every individual life is infinitely precious, that every one of us put in this world has been put there for a reason and has something to offer.”

And Tacitus said, “A desire to resist oppression is implanted in the nature of man.”



Photos by Barry Burleson and Sue Watson Day for remembering Participants in Veterans Day activities last week include (top, from left) Harvey Haggard, Larry Lott, Boyd Moore, Bill Janssen and James Brown; (bottom, left) Dennis Carlisle Sr.; and (bottom, right) Michael Laurie and pastor Edward Moses.

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