Dateline: November 15, 2001

Services honor vets   

Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Small crowds attended veterans programs in Hedley and Clarendon last weekend as America marked its first Veterans Day during a time of war in a generation.

The first service was held Saturday, November 10, at the Rowe Cemetery near Hedley with the Adamson Lane Post 287 of the American Legion in charge. Twenty-five people attended.

Raymond Hopper and M.O. Weatherly laid a wreath on the cemetery’s war memorial, the colors were posted, and Barbara Collins sang the national anthem.

Post Commander Jack Moreman spoke of the historical significance of the holiday, formerly known as Armistice Day, and related it to modern events.

“We’ve avoided war on this continent for over 100 years,” he said. “Then right before our eyes we saw what happened on September 11.”

Moreman said when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, it took several months before the United States took action.

“Now, in two months, we’ve made somebody pay a price.”

The War on Terror will not be over quickly, the commander said; and he urged Americans to learn the virtue of patience.

The commander said he and VFW Quartermaster Bill Holden had spoken to students at Clarendon High School last week and were impressed because for the first time the kids were very attentive.

“I think they realize now they are not bulletproof,” he said.

Saturday’s ceremony was the first Veterans Day service to be held at the Rowe Cemetery.

On Sunday, November 11, approximately 30 people attended services at the Donley County War Memorial on the Courthouse Square with the Donley County Post 7782 in charge.

“It was difficult to plan this program this year because it fell on Sunday,” VFW Quartermaster Bill Holden said. “I’m just so happy that so many people turned out.”

Jim Cockerham addressed the crowd and shared something he had written to some friends of his.

“Let us cherish the good memories of our past and honor those who have gone before,” he said. “Let us also honor those who follow the same path we took, for we, of all people, know the trials they face.

“Let us show our appreciation and support [for these young people], for we know how lonely it is to be away from those we love and those things we are familiar with. Let us stand tall and be forever proud of who we are: Americans, Patriots, Warriors, and Brothers.”

The program was closed with the usual VFW ceremony of honoring fallen comrades, followed by those in attendance placing flags near the names of friends or loved ones in the stone walkway.