‘A Country Like No Other’

Students Lead Way In Veterans Day Ceremony

“To me, the Pledge of Allegiance shows that we are a country like no other,” said sixth-grader Penn Detwiler of Lylburn Downing Middle School, the first speaker at this year’s Veterans Day Ceremony held at the Lexington Presbyterian Church.

“The pledge is meant to unite,” said Detwiler. “It is meant to bring our nation closer together, rather than split apart based on political groups.”

When his address was finished, Detwiler introduced his classmate, Eve Neibur, to speak about her feelings regarding the pledge. “The pledge … serves as a very important reminder of our responsibility to honor veterans’ sacrifices,” she said. “It’s easy to say the words, sure, but to live through them, that requires bravery and toughness.” Appearing after a choir of Waddell Elementary thirdgraders sang the national anthem, the youth speakers made an obvious impact on the rest of the ceremony. Later in the evening, Dr. Ralph Caldroney joked, “I want to say to our elected officials: Penn and Eve may take your jobs.” The comment was met with laughter from the sizable audience.

“I think a lot of veterans would share the emotions that I had early in this event,” agreed Col. Lee Havird, the keynote speaker for the ceremony and Virginia Military Institute’s current commandant of cadets.

Havird’s address focused on both the past and the future, including a history lesson about the transition to Veterans Day from what was formerly known as Armistice Day. Armistice Day originally commemorated the end of World War I.

“Once we transitioned into other major conf licts, in World War II, our leadership recognized that recognizing a single day of veterans for a single conflict is not sufficient,” said Havird. “And in 1954, President Eisenhower signed into law a change from Armistice Day to Veterans Day, to recognize all veterans from all wars.”

The highlight of Havird’s speech was the recognition of three veterans from the area who had made the ultimate sacrifice.

“Lt. Commander Charles Parish, United States Navy, was a 1964 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, and from Lexington Virginia,” he said. “He went missing in action from service in Vietnam, while serving from the United States American aircraft carrier colony. He was shot down in North Vietnam on July 25, 1968. We reflect upon his valuable service today.

“In World War II, we had another individual from this county, Pvt. William Bane of the United States Army. He was killed in World War II on 9 October 1944, while serving in the 141st Infantry Regiment in France.”

The third veteran recognized by Havird, while not from Rockbridge County, was a personal friend of his. “He came from Vinton, Virginia. First Lt. Terry Plunk, United States Army. He was in the Virginia Military Institute class of 1988. He died in the Persian Gulf War on 26 February 1991, while serving in the 27th Engineering Battalion of the 18th Airborne Corps. He was one of the finest individuals I’ve had the opportunity to associate with in my life.”

Havird emphasized the effect such sacrifices have on a community and its future generations. “As commandant of cadets at VMI, I have the unique opportunity to contribute to paying forward the support I received from previous residents of Lexington from the fall of 1986 until the spring of 1990,” he said.

“I would be remiss if I didn’t highlight the cadets’ commitment to a life of service. You make the veterans in this room extremely proud. I am inspired each day to associate with you.”

The ceremony included addresses from other guests, as well as a presentation of wreaths from different organizations.

State Sen. Chris Head, who represents Virginia’s 3rd District, praised the singing by the elementary students, and took the opportunity to speak about the military context of the national anthem.

“Did you know you only sang part of it?” he asked the students. “When we sing the anthem at events, we end it with the first verse, which ends on a question – ‘Oh say, does the star-spangled banner yet wave?’

“It’s the last verse that says: ‘Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, / And this be our motto – ‘In God is our trust,’ / And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave / O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.’

“And that can only happen with the great service of our veterans,” Head concluded.

Lexington Mayor Frank Friedman expressed his gratitude to veterans as well as current service members, and extended the praise even further.

“Our collective appreciation extends to the families of those serving in the armed forces, as these families also make sacrifices in support of the freedoms we enjoy each and every day,” he said.

Friedman encouraged the audience to explore other memorial areas Lexington has to offer.

“As you go from this place, I invite you to visit Jordans Point Park to experience Lexington’s Gold Star Memorial,” he said. “While there, you can reflect on the service and sacrifices made by our native sons Drew Ross, Chase Prasnicki, their families, and all the Gold Star families.”

The ceremony ended with the presentation of four wreaths to veterans, provided by Dr. Ralph Caldroney, retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, representing Connections Plus Healthcare and Hospice; retired Air Force Lt. Col. Bob Hopkins, representing the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1499; the Military Officers Association of America; and the Lexington Woman’s Club, which sponsors the annual event.