Kempner dedicates new memorial on Veterans Day Posted On: Thursday, Nov. 12 2009 05:30 AM By Jackie Stone
Killeen Daily Herald

KEMPNER – While parades and ceremonies rang in Veterans Day across the nation Wednesday, a group of about 200 people gathered in this small community to honor local veterans and military personnel at the dedication of a new veterans' memorial.

A handful of veterans and officers in their dress blues sat or stood inside the circular memorial while a crowd dotted with Veterans of Foreign Wars caps spilled around the white stone wall.

Kempner Mayor Gene Isenhour began the ceremony with a moment of silence for the recent shooting at Fort Hood and a special thanks to the members of the 36th Engineer Brigade who attended the ceremony.

"We understand this has been a tough week for you, and we are humbled by your presence today," he said.

The 36th Engineer Brigade, which is partnered with the city of Kempner, has been working on the park. Soldiers primarily from the brigade's 8th Engineer Battalion volunteered to help with design and construction on the memorial and attached Sylvia Tucker Memorial Park.

The 36th Engineer Brigade was also the unit most affected by last week's shooting. Four soldiers from the brigade's 20th Engineer Battalion died, and another 11 were wounded.

The completed memorial stands near the entrance to the park on U.S. Highway 190 near Taylor Creek. Memorial bricks top the low white stone "Wall of Honor" that rings the central memorial stone unveiled Wednesday.

Col. Kent Savre, commander of the 36th Engineer Brigade, commended Isenhour for his efforts over the past several months to give the community a park and memorial where families or individuals can meet or just reflect.

"There are countless people who provided their support and resources to this beautiful memorial and to the park that we're going to have here in Kempner, but you can't pull something like this off without the vision of one person," he said.

Attendees and those on the program spanned all ages, from the 102-year-old World War II veteran who gave the benediction to fourth-grader Allison Kendrick, who sang the national anthem.

After the moment of silence, Maj. Scott Holden came to the podium and read a list containing the names of the 12 soldiers and one civilian who were killed in the shooting.

Spc. Christopher Rhodes and Pfc. Jared Mitchell with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 36th Engineer Brigade, attended the ceremony Wednesday. Rhodes said they worked on the design of the project and had been coming out about once a week to work on the park.

"I like that we can leave something behind that shows the work and dedication of our soldiers," Rhodes said.

Rhodes said he wasn't originally going to attend any Veterans Day events, but he changed his mind after the Fort Hood shooting in order to better remember the four lost from the unit.

Isenhour said he was glad to see the crowds that came out for Veterans Day, especially the young people.

"I'm afraid days like today mean a day off to a lot of people instead of what it really ought to mean," Isenhour said.

In his speech, Isenhour emphasized the importance of Veterans Day, honoring, serving and remembering all current and former members of the military.

"There is no mystery behind the endurance and success of American liberty – it is because in every generation from the revolutionary period to this very hour, brave Americans have stepped forward and served honorably in the armed forces of the United States," Isenhour said.

Contact Jackie Stone at jstone@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7474.