February 13, 2026 - VFW Post 8904 held a ceremony on Friday, February 13, 2026 in remembrance of the sinking of the USS Maine and its crew in Havana Harbor 128 years ago.
Richard Lundie, Post Two-Year-Trustee, offered an opening prayer, and led the group in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. He then spoke about the events of February 15, 1898 impacting the USS Maine and its crew.
"266 crewmen and marines were killed. Spain was blamed for that explosion and the Spanish-American War began as a result. Less than four months later, on August 12th, 1898 the United States won a decisive victory," said Lundie. "This was the first war the United States ever had fought beyond its shores. 3,000 American military were lost, but mostly from yellow fever, and typhoid from fighting in the jungle in the Philippine-American War that followed."
Lundie quoted Teddy Roosevelt who said to his troops as they mustered out, "Enjoy the next 15 days because after that you will be forgotten."
“And they were, and because of that the United States Government refused them the proper medical care,” said Lundie. “These veterans banded together to organize what would eventually become the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States."
In memory of those whose lives were lost in the explosion of the USS Maine and the Spanish-American War that followed Ike Reeves, Post Judge Advocate, placed the memorial wreath upon the Shelby County Veterans Memorial.
Lundie said that Shelby County has six veterans who can be connected to the Spanish-American War. The first, Elijah Webb, was born in 1866 in Shelby County and he voluntarily enlisted at the beginning of the Spanish-American War. He was sent to Cuba and then to Manila in the Philippines after that. He served in Company H, 44th U.S. Volunteer Infantry.
“While the Spanish-American War ended in 1898, the first Philippine Republic objected to the terms under which the United States took possession of the Philippines from Spain, and the fighting continued there until July 2, 1902,” said Lundie. “During fighting in the Philippines Elijah Webb was killed on June 16, 1900. His body was returned to Shelby County for burial in August 1901.”
Lundie referenced a Houston Post article from August 18, 1901, "On the large box which held the metallic coffin with his name, the number of his company and the cause of his death, which was stated on the box a knife wound to the head. It went on to say that Leige had many friends here and a good crowd witnessed the casket in which rested his remains."
Webb was then buried in the Methodist Cemetery located on Porter Street in Center.
Lundie listed others that served in the Spanish-American War including Edwin Booth who is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Timpson; Brunson Cline who is buried in Carroll Cemetery; Charles Hudson who is buried in the Corinth Cemetery; Charlie Matlock who is buried in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery; and James Mosby Jr. who is buried in Fairview Cemetery in Center.
"Today we honor these local veterans and all other forefathers of our great organization by continuing to fight for veterans rights, and benefits, just as they did," said Lundie.
Taps was then played as presented by Gene Hutto, Past-Post-Commander.
