September 2, 2016 - VFW Post 8904 Veterans and Ladies Auxiliary members gathered at the Shelby County Veterans Memorial on Wednesday, August 31, 2015 to honor Veterans of the Iraq War with Larry Hume, Quartermaster, leading the ceremony.
"The war in Iraq began on March 20, 2003 and continued until August 31, 2010, it's been six years sence the end of hostilities and it's our duties as fellow veterans and citizens to ensure that this piece of history and the sacrifices made are never forgotten. Our gathering today is a small but heartfelt thank you to those American Patriots who served in the Iraq War," said Hume.
"During the seven-plus years of the Iraq War 4,486 Americans paid the ultimate sacrifice, including our own U.S. Army Specialist Larry E. Polley Jr. in January of 2004. Larry graduated from Center High School in 2001 and was 20 years old when he was killed in action," said Hume. He recognized Polley's mother, Lois Harper and father, Larry Polley, Sr. and presented them with plaques.
The Polley family then did the honors of placing the Iraq War Veterans wreath on the Shelby County Veterans Memorial.
"Today we've gathered to remember our fallen comrades and all those who served in the Iraq War. Many served more than one tour, not only in Iraq, but in Afghanistan also," said Hume. "As we always say, the sacrifice is meaningless without remembrance and the core members of our VFW Post and Ladies Auxiliary will never forget, or let the general public forget, the general public who is mostly uninterested. Today, we would like to honor our gold star Polley Family with a small but heartfelt thank you."
Post Commander Gene Hutto presented Lois Harper a certificate in honor of her son who took freedom to a distant land and gave hope to a world oppressed. Post Senior Vice Newton Johnson, Jr. presented a similar certificate to Larry Polley, Sr.
Hume recognized those Iraq War veterans he knew to be present at the ceremony including past Post Commander Mike Langford and Addie Boyd.
TAPS was then played as presented by Mike Langford.
