Servicemen and women -- in particular, a Marine from Hot Springs who was designated as killed in action in Vietnam -- were honored during the community's annual Veterans Day Service at the Garland County Veterans Memorial and Military Park Saturday.
The service drew veterans from all branches of the United States armed forces, and featured the commemoration of Hot Springs native Cleveland Evans, speeches from U.S. military veterans and a presentation of the colors by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2278 Honor Guard.
Evans' name was engraved on a brick that was added to the over 1,100 others in the memorial, an addition that was commemorated during the service. Evans served as a Marine staff sergeant and mechanic in Vietnam from the fall of 1967 to March 1968. He was listed as missing in action after defending a downed helicopter that he had boarded to see his brother, Jerry Evans, who was stationed 30 miles from him in the Army.
Seven years later, Cleveland Evans was designated as killed in action.
Cleveland Evans is the 20th name to be added to the memorial this year. His name will also be the first on a monument to honor servicemen and women who were missing in action and prisoners of war, which the Veterans Committee has agreed to add to the memorial in the future.
Evans' sister, Jerreldean Ross, and his niece, Gwyn Jetson, both of Hot Springs, were present at the service. Jerry Evans, who now lives in Lawrence, Kan., was unable to attend.
Nonetheless, Ross said she and her brother were excited to hear about their late brother's commemoration.
"Cleveland was a wonderful, wonderful young man," Ross told the audience. "We had a bond that probably others didn't have, but I'm just grateful that he's getting this recognition today."
In light of her brother's commemoration, Ross said she will be finding ways to become more involved with veterans in Hot Springs and the surrounding areas. She said she was unaware of the Garland County Veterans Memorial and Military Park prior to being contacted for the commemoration.
"It brings attention to what people normally don't know," Ross said.
Professor Gregory Foster, who served as a reconnaissance platoon leader and is now a faculty member at Industrial College of the Armed Forces, gave the service's keynote address. Foster's address focused on the "memories, exceptions and obligations" of military veterans.
Foster said veterans are "most alike in our differences," but have these three areas in common.
Foster said each veteran carries unique memories from their times of service throughout the rest of their lives. He expounded on a few memories of his own, such as one of his comrades trying to get brought off the front lines by shooting himself in the foot but being unsuccessful in his attempt.
As for expectations, Foster said veterans would like to receive some form of appreciation for their service to the United States. He said he is "not talking about shallow appreciation."
"That's what we get with 'support the troops' ribbons on SUVs or gratuitous 'thanks for your service' greetings not undergirded by true meaning," he said. "I'm talking about deep appreciation, the type born of a properly educated public that, despite its own lack of firsthand experience, comes to understand what the military is and ought to be about."
Finally, Foster spoke on the obligations that veterans have after their time of service. He said veterans take an oath to protect and defend the constitution when they enlist, and that this duty doesn't end with discharge.
"If we are to realize the deep appreciation I mentioned, we have to continue educating ourselves so that we can more fully and ably educate the public whose appreciation we seek," he said.
Foster was followed by Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin, who told the audience that they have a duty to instill gratitude for the military in future generations. He said there is "no guarantee that 10 years from now, 20 years from now, 100 years from now, that this event will happen."
In light of this reality, Griffin said that simply holding and attending the service is how to pass such gratitude from one generation to another.
"It communicates that this is a big deal," Griffin said of the event. "You can tell a kid, you can hear the words, but the actions speak so much louder."
"I'm grateful, as others have said, for those who have served, who have kept it safe for us, those of you who have served and those of you who are yet serving," Ross told the audience. "I just want to say thank you. I know it doesn't seem like much, but I am grateful, and I know I am not the only one."
Local on 11/12/2017