May 31, 2017 (More Photos) - Despite storms Sunday night, a crowd gathered at First United Methodist Church in Center on Monday, May 29th for a Memorial Day program hosted by the Shelby County Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 8904 and the Auxiliary.
Bro. Aubie McSwain of First Christian Church gave the invocation to begin the ceremony which was followed by Sr. Vice Newton Johnson, Jr. and Jr. Vice Jason Samford performed the posting of the Ceremonial Rifle.
Excelsior ISD student Marissa Crawford then sang the National Anthem. Milagros Luna, Miranda Prnka, and Reagan Hovey who are recent Joaquin graduates then assisted Past Post Commander Mike Langford with leading everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance in a way which the late Red Skelton spoke on his television program in 1969 to students who had come to think of the Pledge of Allegiance as merely something to recite in class.
Langford began the start of Skelton’s words, “I’ve been listening to you boys and girls recite the Pledge of Allegiance all semester and it seems as though it is becoming monotonous to you. If I may, may I recite it and try to explain to you the meaning of each word?”
The Joaquin students each took turns saying:
I - “Me, an individual, a committee of one.”
Pledge - “Dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self pity.”
Allegiance - “My love and my devotion.”
To the flag - "Our standard, Old Glory, a symbol of freedom. Wherever she waves, there's respect because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts freedom is everybody's job!"
of the United - "That means that we have all come together."
States - “Individual communities that have united into forty-eight great states. Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose; all divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common purpose, and that's love for country."
And to the Republic - “Republic. A state in which sovereign power is invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern. And government is the people and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people"
For which it stands, One Nation under God - “One Nation, meaning 'so blessed by God'"
Indivisible - “Incapable of being divided."
With Liberty - “Which is freedom -- the right of power to live one's own life without threats, fear or some sort of retaliation."
And Justice - “The principle or quality of dealing fairly with others."
For all. - “For All. Which means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine."
Langford then continued with Skelton’s words, "Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our Country and two words have been added to the pledge of Allegiance... UNDER GOD."
Following a welcome by Larry Hume, Post Quartermaster, the Service Song Medley was played on the piano by Ann Harmon. As each branch of service was represented in the medley, anyone who served or had a family member who served in that branch were invited to stand.
Hume introduced Darby Hughes from Joaquin HS who won the VFW Post 8904 and District 19 Voice of Democracy contest. Hughes recited her winning speech and was presented a plaque by Post Commander Gene Hutto.
The roll call of honor was then read while VFW and Auxiliary members and anyone attending who wished to help took turns placing a flower on the Memorial Wreath for each name read. A moment of silence was then held to honor all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
Leigh Porterfield sang “God Bless America” and to end the program Taps was presented by John Piersol, Post Service Officer.
Those remembered in the Roll Call of Honor are listed below (**Missing in Action):
Philippine Insurrection (1): Elijah Webb
Civil War (21): Thomas Baker, Frank Biggar, Richard Sweezer Biggar, James Tapley Booth, D. C. Brandon, James Moore Choate, Stephen Choppell Christian, Joseph Duncan, W.J. Freeland, Oscar F. Hall, James Harkness, James Travis Hopkins, Andrew Frank Hughes**, Sam Houston Latham, Stephen R. Latham, David Milford Mouser, Benjamin Franklin Newman, Stephen N. Power, Benjamin Henry Schooler, James Madison Soloman, G. H. Stevens
World War I (30): Preston Archer, Norfleet Armstrong, Clyde Chance, Jimmie E. Chandler, Freddie F. Choate, Roy Copeland, Norman G. Crocker (1st Texas A&M Grad & Shelby Co. Soldier killed in WWI), Jodie M. Ferguson, James E. Fielder, Louis Franklin, Bert Gordon, Ira A. Hoffman, Fred R. Lindsey, Charles W. McBride, Ferman H. McCann, Clyde T. Morrison, John B. Norman, Stephen H. Oates, Kirt C Ramey, Alexander D. Ramsey, John Sharp, Ernest H. Shipp, John Stanton, Joe Taylor, Wilburn Taylor, John W. Temple**, Nathaniel H. Tims, Boss Turner, Noah H. Warr, John Yeary
World War II (124): John C.B. Alford**, Ernest W. Allen, Ralph L. Amoss, John C. Anderson, Nolan R. Anderson, Lloyd L. Andrews**, Leroy Anding, Bruce C. Baker, Jr., Marvin Beard, James L. Beckham, Ray W. Bolton, Joseph B. Brannon, Richard Dale Bray, Urdong Brinson, Bryan Nelson Brittain, Thomas B. Brittain, Lee O. Brunson**, John B. Bryn**, E.T. Burgess, Jr., Ben H. Burns, Emory C. Campbell**, Jack E. Carter, Huston Cartwright, Rayford H. Ceal, Philip H. Childs**, James Alton Cleveland**, Royce C. Collum, Bobbie Compton, Joseph S. Connell, Ivey O. Cooper, Marvin K. Crausby, Delton Cravey, Richard E. Crawford, Troy F. Crawford, Bobby Allen Crump, Bailey B. Davis, Early E. Davis, Robert E. Daw, Jr., Lewis V. Dockens**, Reed H. Dominy**, Roy V. Duncan**, Austin E. Dunaway, William P. Durham, Arlie L. Eddins, O.J. Edwards, Robert Henry Essery, Dewey L. Evans, Louis Fishman, Charles R. Frame, Everett A. Gaines, Tom Gant, Randle B. Golden, E. C. Gunnels, Hubert B. Haley**, Hulen M. Hardage, Pershing H. Harvey**, Walter Bruce Henry**, Ralph D. Herndon, Dudley D. Holt, J.W. Honeycutt, William S. Hopkins, Roy D. Hughes, Arther T. Hutcherson, Walter B. Hutto, Leroy Johnson, Curtis Jolley**, Carl H. Jones, Johnnie L. Jones, James R. Kirkland, Willie D. Lathon**, Johnnie M. Lee, Howard L. Lovell, Clarence M. Mahan, Earnest M. Mahan, Charlie D. Majors, Bryan McCollum, Jr., James A. McDaniel**, William Lee Meek**, John R. Miller, John W. Minter, Roy H. Mitchell, Thomas L. Mitchell, Jimmie H. Mott, Hoya B. Murphy, L.C. Netherly, Kenneth N. Nicholson**, Steve Henry Oates, Pershing Pate, James E. Pate, Jack T. Powell, Arlen R. Rhame, Ben R. Rhodes, Postell Richard, Darwin A. Risinger**, George O. River, Jr., John C. Scott**, Benjamin M. Simon, Hugh J. Smith, Choron Smothermon**, Rennie C. Snider, Jr., Johnny F. Stack**, Robert Swanzy, James P. Tindol, William R. Todd, Richard R. Wallace**, Vernon B. Walters, Sidney E. Watson, Arvin D. Webb, Harold M. Webb, Robert H. Wharton**, E. C. White, Marion Bedford Whiteside, Jr.**, Robert Wilburn, Claude M. Wilkerson**, Clifton Williams, Eligie P. Williams**, Elmer E. Williams, Ray D. Williams**, Wrayful Willis, Julius R. Windham, Melvin T. Windham, Sil Winfrey, Jr., Harry H. Womack, Albert Youngblood, Gilbert Youngblood
Korea (7): Clifford Hughes, Johnny V. Mena, Bobbie F. Mock, Billy Clyde Stephenson, Leonard Williams, Willie J. Wilson, Willie E. Windham**
Vietnam (9): Ted Wane Adams, William Larry "Shorty" Andrews, Jimmy Dalton Barnett, Mac Curtis Buckley, Larry S. "Possum" Byford, Ray Jr. Chatelain, William Henry Eaden, Jerry Lynn Hughes, Taylor D. Johnson, Calvin R. Patrick
Iraq (1): Larry E. Polley, Jr.
Afghanistan (2): Kevin C. Roberts and Cory J. Bertrand
