May 27, 2019
'Freedom does not come without a cost'
The Poplar Bluff Veterans’ Council held a celebratory presentation honoring and remembering all who served in the United States military at the Veterans’ Wall located in front of the Black River Coliseum on Monday. Dozens of community members attended the presentation on Memorial Day to recognize those who have served in the armed forces. Multiple presentations took place at the program to celebrate and give honor to the veterans present and the deceased men and women who have served...
Caleb H. Swallows
The Poplar Bluff Veterans’ Council held a celebratory presentation honoring and remembering all who served in the United States military at the Veterans’ Wall located in front of the Black River Coliseum on Monday.
Dozens of community members attended the presentation on Memorial Day to recognize those who have served in the armed forces. Multiple presentations took place at the program to celebrate and give honor to the veterans present and the deceased men and women who have served.
The commencement of the program was led by Larry Kimbrow, President of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1056. Kimbrow opened by welcoming all in attendance and giving a special welcome to the distinguished guests in attendance — the veterans themselves.
The Invocation was lead by the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1056 Chaplain, Herbert Breece, followed by the post of colors presented by the American Legion Riders Post 494, Pledge of Allegiance lead by retired Navy Commander John Holland, and the national anthem sang by Poplar Bluff High School student Ross Dare.
A wreath presentation followed which was presented by women of different local auxiliaries and a symbolic Prisoners of War and Missing in Action Remembrance presentation was given by the Treasure of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Bardis Dismuke.
Kimbrow invited Dr. Patricia L. Hall, director of John J. Pershing VA Medical Center, to speak.
Hall began by thanking everyone in attendance for taking the time to recognize those who have served.
“Freedom does not come without a cost,” Hall said. “Many have given their lives for this country and that cannot be forgotten.”
Hall continued by giving personal experiences and gave names of individuals who were killed during service and had served with her during her time in the military.
“There is something important we must do to honor those who have passed.” Hall said. “We must honor the deceased by helping the living veterans.”
Hall closed by emphasizing the importance of joining Americans everywhere to spend Memorial Day recognizing those who served and who are serving.
Next to be recognized during the ceremony was the keynote speaker, Earl Pennington, retired Master Sergeant of the U.S. Air Force. Pennington, 87, currently volunteers in the SEMO Honor Guard.
Pennington gives detail on his time during the Vietnam War and some of the life threatening experiences he had.
“I started off flying in a C-74 aircraft during the war.” Pennington explained. “I then changed to being apart of a C-124 crew.”
Pennington continued by explaining a trip he took around the world during the Cold War era with the purpose to scare the Soviet Union.
“I was apart of the C-124 support team to assist in the around the world trip done by the B-52 Bomber.” Pennington said. “This was a show of strength against the Russians and to show them we could get anywhere in the world if we needed to.”
Pennington then moved to a different story explaining his faith and how it was shaped during a life threatening event in his time of service.
“During February of 1962, we were traveling between islands transporting steel by aircraft until we hit a storm which took out the integrity of our plane.” Pennington said. “Once things started to look bad, a member of the crew, a devout Christian, began to pray and didn’t stop for six hours. We made it back to Hawaii from a flight we should not have survived. Many said it was an act of God that we did. That day made me believe there is a supreme being.”
Kimbrow closed the ceremony by thanking everyone in attendance for coming and gave thanks to the SEMO Honor Guard. He explained that the SEMO Honor Guard participates in an average of three funerals per day across Southeast Missouri and gave thanks to those men who volunteer.
The event took place at 11:00 a.m. on May 27 at the Veteran Wall in front of the Black River Coliseum.
Advertisement
Advertisement