Members of the public and state officials gathered with active and retired servicemen and servicewomen Monday to honor America's fallen during the community's annual Memorial Day Service at the Garland County Veterans Memorial and Military Park.
This year's speaker was retired Maj. Gen. Tom Arwood, who served the country in the U.S. Army for 34 years. During his time in the military, Arwood served around the globe, and has continued serving the country in many different capacities after retiring. He is a member of the Army Quartermaster Hall of Fame, the Bowling Green State University Hall of Fame and the Arkansas Military Veterans Hall of Fame.
During his address to those gathered to salute fallen heroes, he gave a brief history of Memorial Day and stressed the importance of communities' participation each year.
"Memorial Day is a time for Americans to reconnect with their history and the core value, by honoring those who gave their lives for the ideals to be cherished. More than a million American service members died in the wars and conflicts this nations has fought. Each person who died during those conflicts was loved and cherished by family and friends. Each was a loss to the community and our nation," said Arwood.
"The observance of this day was born in compassion and empathy in 1863. As the Civil War raged, grieving mothers, daughters, wives and other loved ones were cleaning the graves of the Confederate soldiers in Columbus, Miss., and placing a rose on it. They noticed nearby the Union soldiers' graves, dusty and overgrown with weeds. Grieving for their own fallen soldiers, the Confederate women understood that the dead Union soldiers buried nearby were cherished by loved ones, families and communities far away. They cleared the tangled brush and mud from those graves, as well as their own soldier's graves, and laid flowers upon them," he said.
According to Arwood, the holiday's origins were a gesture of healing and reconciliation in a land ripped apart by conflict. He also touched on the fact that, over the years, many people have forgotten the true meaning behind the holiday. Over the years it has become more commercialized, and less about honoring fallen heroes. Ceremonies like the one Monday keep the patriotic core true spirit of remembrance surrounding Memorial Day alive and well, he said.
Arwood said he believes that a large part of disconnect between Americans and the military stems from the fact many service members do not talk about their time in the military, especially those who fought in Word War II, Korea and Vietnam. Oftentimes, the memories associated with wartime are laced with fear, loss and hard times many do not wish to recall, but there are stories of great acts of patriotism hidden within those same memories worth sharing.
So much of the country's history lies within the untold war stories soldiers bring home, according to Arwood. Although those memories can sometimes be painful, it's crucial for present and future generations to understand just how much of a sacrifice servicemen and servicewomen have made over the years. He encouraged members of the community to take an active roll in bridging the gap, and make a difference in how Americans view the military today.
"We can all make a difference with our individual acts, and it is important that we do in a way so that (people) understand the importance of our history and the importance and value of our nation's military," he said.
Walter Thrasher, vice chairman of the Veterans Memorial Committee and Vietnam Veterans Organization, served as the master of ceremonies. VFW Post 2278 Honor Guard led the advance and retirement of colors, as well as the Pledge of Allegiance and firing of the volleys.
Brother Darryle Sulton, pastor of Sulphur Springs Missionary Baptist Church, led the invocation and benediction. Amy Arego led the national anthem and a special tribute of "Amazing Grace" for veterans.
Memorial wreaths, honoring fallen soldiers from World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, Global War on Terrorism, Purple Heart Recipients and POW/MIA were posted by members of the VFW Post 2278 Ladies Auxiliary. Ross Rumore, retired Marine bugler, played taps.
Local on 05/30/2017