Harker Heights honors veterans
Posted On: Wednesday, Nov. 11 2009 05:53 AM
By Mason W. Canales
Killeen Daily HeraldHARKER HEIGHTS – Veterans gathered between City Hall and the recreation building in front of a veterans memorial Tuesday night for the city's Veterans Day ceremony.
"Today is a special day with a memorial," said Greg Schannep, U.S. Rep. John R. Carter's, R-Round Rock, regional director, leading the crowd in an opening prayer. "Tomorrow is Veterans Day. Tonight we are in between."
Three men spoke on the importance of Veterans Day during the ceremony – Marty Martinez of the The Retired Enlisted Association CenTex Chapter 88,
Mayor Ed Mullen, a veteran, and Brig. Gen. Peter Atkinson, III Corps' and Fort Hood's Canadian deputy commander.
Veterans Day is to honor service members including all those who have served or are serving in the armed forces, Martinez said.
"What today is really about is veterans," Atkinson said during his speech. We must "remember the veterans that came before. ... If we forget, then we will fall down."
Many veterans sat among the crowd of more than 200 people at the ceremony.
Veterans are the people who have "stood up for what matters" – our freedom, Mullen said. "Today we honor all of them."
After the speeches, members of area veterans' organizations carried a single wreath through the crowd, which was holding red and blue lights.
The group passed the wreath to Col. Reginald Allen and Command Sgt. Maj. Jonathan Hunt, leaders of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, who placed it in front of the memorial.
The audience focused on the wreath during a moment of silence, broken as Tonya Miller started singing "God Bless America." Taps was played to end the ceremony.
"We can never let them forget the sacrifice and the blood we laid down for the freedoms we have today," Atkinson said. "Tonight on the eve of Veterans Day, let us never forget."
Contact Mason W. Canales at
mcanales@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7554.