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November 20, 2009 Cartersville, Georgia
LOCAL NEWS
Observance at Legion Post 42 salutes veterans
From the welcome by Bev. McGruder, commander of Carl Boyd Post 42 of the American Legion to the singing of "God Bless America" by the crowd, Wednesday's Veterans Day observance at the Legion post was solemn, reflective and forward-looking.
"It is only by viewing the past that we can see the future," McGruder said in his opening remarks.
Father and son William E. Fouts, 85, and William E. Fouts Jr., 57, both of Adairsville, were two of many veterans who attended the event.
The senior Fouts said he went into the U.S. Army in 1943 and served in the 6th Infantry Division until 1946, serving with Gen. Douglas McArthur in the Philippines, part of the Allied force that took the islands back from the Japanese.
Of McArthur, Fouts said, "He said 'I have returned.'" He didn't say anything about the 10,000 GIs who got there before he did."
Fouts said he comes to each year's observance when he can. Talking about his stint in the Army, Fouts said, "I'd do it again. I'm glad to see these others [veterans from various wars] here."
William E. Fouts Jr. was in the U.S. Air Force from 1972 to 1976, stationed part of the time at the Strategic Air Command headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska and the remainder at Elmendorf AFB in Alaska.
The junior Fouts' area of service was in crash and rescue with the Air Force fire department and he turned it into a civilian career, having spent the last 29 years with the Lockheed-Martin Fire Department in Marietta.
"I was proud to serve," he said, adding that he had a friend already in the Air Force who "mentored" him to join.
"This is one of the most important days of my life every year. [Sept. 11, 2001] kind of changed things in this country. Being a first responder ... we lost so many that day," he said.
Fouts said both he and his father fly flags at their front door. Fouts Sr. has resided in Adairsville 22 years and Fouts Jr. has lived there 21 years.
Battles honors 'true servants'
District 115 State Rep. Paul Battles, R-Cartersville, was the featured speaker. He began his remarks by saying, "When I look out over the crowd here, truly I see those who have been servants of our community."
Battles said he has often asked the question, "Why do so many young men and now women step forward in service to something bigger than themselves?"
He said they are giving service above self, recognizing that phrase as the motto of the Rotary Club but adding that it surely must have come from the services. He later paraphrased the Bible verse John 15:13, saying, "There is no greater love than this, that a man would give his life for his friends."
Looking at the veterans in the crowd, he said, "I believe today at installations around the globe they still would turn and say, 'Thank you.' We pledge to you that we will continue to honor what you have done."
Battles talked of 1967-68 when he spent time at Fort Knox in Kentucky and said at a certain time every afternoon, if a person had not made it back to the barracks, he would hear a trumpet and know it was time to turn and face the music.
"That's what our veterans have done. You've turned and faced the music," he said, adding that veterans have preserved liberty and made friendships that have lasted them a lifetime.
John O'Keefe, an assistant to 11th District U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey, was present to represent Gingrey, who was in Afghanistan Tuesday with American troops. O'Keefe read aloud the names of the 29 from the 11th District who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Two different moments of silence were observed for the soldiers and families at Ford Hood, Texas, where 13 soldiers were slain last week and 31 wounded.
The Cass High School band and the Cass High JROTC were major parts of the observance.
The JROTC posted and retired the colors, the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Cadet Command Sgt. Major Lewis Dixon, and the five military branches' flags were presented as each's anthem was played by the band.
Cadet 1st Lt. William Reed of the JROTC rang solitary peals on a bell as Sgt. Frank Patelka of the Georgia Army National Guard read aloud the 127 names of local veterans who had passed away in the past year.
The band also played patriotic music and accompanied Ron Henderson, who was playing the bagpipes, on "Amazing Grace."
Barbara O'Neal of the Legion Auxiliary and her granddaughter, Hannah Grogan, a junior member of the Auxiliary, laid the symbolic wreath at the speaker's podium.
"It is only by viewing the past that we can see the future," McGruder said in his opening remarks.
Father and son William E. Fouts, 85, and William E. Fouts Jr., 57, both of Adairsville, were two of many veterans who attended the event.
The senior Fouts said he went into the U.S. Army in 1943 and served in the 6th Infantry Division until 1946, serving with Gen. Douglas McArthur in the Philippines, part of the Allied force that took the islands back from the Japanese.
Of McArthur, Fouts said, "He said 'I have returned.'" He didn't say anything about the 10,000 GIs who got there before he did."
Fouts said he comes to each year's observance when he can. Talking about his stint in the Army, Fouts said, "I'd do it again. I'm glad to see these others [veterans from various wars] here."
William E. Fouts Jr. was in the U.S. Air Force from 1972 to 1976, stationed part of the time at the Strategic Air Command headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska and the remainder at Elmendorf AFB in Alaska.
The junior Fouts' area of service was in crash and rescue with the Air Force fire department and he turned it into a civilian career, having spent the last 29 years with the Lockheed-Martin Fire Department in Marietta.
"I was proud to serve," he said, adding that he had a friend already in the Air Force who "mentored" him to join.
"This is one of the most important days of my life every year. [Sept. 11, 2001] kind of changed things in this country. Being a first responder ... we lost so many that day," he said.
Fouts said both he and his father fly flags at their front door. Fouts Sr. has resided in Adairsville 22 years and Fouts Jr. has lived there 21 years.
Battles honors 'true servants'
District 115 State Rep. Paul Battles, R-Cartersville, was the featured speaker. He began his remarks by saying, "When I look out over the crowd here, truly I see those who have been servants of our community."
Battles said he has often asked the question, "Why do so many young men and now women step forward in service to something bigger than themselves?"
He said they are giving service above self, recognizing that phrase as the motto of the Rotary Club but adding that it surely must have come from the services. He later paraphrased the Bible verse John 15:13, saying, "There is no greater love than this, that a man would give his life for his friends."
Looking at the veterans in the crowd, he said, "I believe today at installations around the globe they still would turn and say, 'Thank you.' We pledge to you that we will continue to honor what you have done."
Battles talked of 1967-68 when he spent time at Fort Knox in Kentucky and said at a certain time every afternoon, if a person had not made it back to the barracks, he would hear a trumpet and know it was time to turn and face the music.
"That's what our veterans have done. You've turned and faced the music," he said, adding that veterans have preserved liberty and made friendships that have lasted them a lifetime.
John O'Keefe, an assistant to 11th District U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey, was present to represent Gingrey, who was in Afghanistan Tuesday with American troops. O'Keefe read aloud the names of the 29 from the 11th District who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Two different moments of silence were observed for the soldiers and families at Ford Hood, Texas, where 13 soldiers were slain last week and 31 wounded.
The Cass High School band and the Cass High JROTC were major parts of the observance.
The JROTC posted and retired the colors, the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Cadet Command Sgt. Major Lewis Dixon, and the five military branches' flags were presented as each's anthem was played by the band.
Cadet 1st Lt. William Reed of the JROTC rang solitary peals on a bell as Sgt. Frank Patelka of the Georgia Army National Guard read aloud the 127 names of local veterans who had passed away in the past year.
The band also played patriotic music and accompanied Ron Henderson, who was playing the bagpipes, on "Amazing Grace."
Barbara O'Neal of the Legion Auxiliary and her granddaughter, Hannah Grogan, a junior member of the Auxiliary, laid the symbolic wreath at the speaker's podium.
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