June 1, 2021 - (Album) - Memorial Day was honored in Shelby County on the Center Downtown square by the VFW Post 8904 and it's Auxiliary on Monday, May 31, 2021.
With Post Quartermaster Larry Hume presiding over the ceremony, the posting of the Battle Cross by performed by Post members Mike Langford and Newton Johnson, Jr. Hume explained, "You have just witnessed the posting o the U.S. Military Battle Cross. It's origins go back to the time of the Civil War when rifles were used to mark the graves of the fallen so that they could later be remembered and recovered. The Battle Cross is a visible reminder of the following that we honor here today and across this nation."
"We gather in unified and solemn remembrance to honor the sacrifices of those who answered the nations call and who have willingly laid down their lives for our freedoms."
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Due to COVID-19 Hume deviated from the normal reading of the names of the 228 men from Shelby County, Texas who died in service of their country or they are still missing in action. He said, "I'm just going to highlight from the different wars going back to the Mexican-American War, 1846 to 1848, 14 from Shelby County, Texas that are known to have died but their final resting place is known only to God. The oldest of that bunch was 28 and the youngest was age 20. During the American Civil War, we know that 23 had died and we still have one that's missing in action. To the Spanish-American War to the Philippine insurrection that followed in 1899 to 1902 only one known casualty from Shelby County, Elijah Webb, killed in action. He's buried over here in the Methodist Cemetery. World War I we had 39 die that were either killed in action or from disease, mainly pneumonia, much like what we went through this past year, with one, John Temple who has been missing in action for 103 years. World War II, Shelby County had 126 total. The youngest was age 18, Bobby Crump, who was killed in the invasion of Okinawa in 1945 and the oldest was Roy Duncan, Army Air Corp whose plane went down and he's been missing in action since 1945. During the Korean War we had one, Willie Windham still missing of the eight from Shelby County. Willie Windham also served with distinction during WWII. During the Vietnam War, Shelby County lost 12 of her sons. The first was William Eaden from Timpson who was lost in 1965 and the last was Calvin Patrick killed in action May of 1969. In the current war on terror, of course we have three names, Larry Polley, Jr., Casey Roberts, and Corey Bertrand. Corey was also only 18 years old."
Hume next asked all attending to personally mention anyone they wanted to remember and many spoke about family members and their service.
Past Post Commander John Piersol hung the Memorial wreath and to end the ceremony, a moment of silence was honored and Post Commander Gene Hutto presented Taps.
