Email   Print   Share By Dave Larsen, Sentinel Editor

Facebook Digg Delicious May 31, 2012 | Living

The 1st Cav. Div. Color Guard opens the Memorial Day ceremony at the Central Texas Veterans Cemetery in Killeen Monday. Remarks were made by Killeen Mayor Dan Corbin, Jerry Patterson, Texas Land Commission, and Fort Hood and III Corps Commanding General Lt. Gen. Don Campbell Jr., wreaths were laid at the ceremony by many veterans and civic groups to honor America’s fallen warriors. Dave Larsen, Sentinel Editor

Beverly and Dale Dickey carry a wreath for the Blue Star Mothers of America Heart of Texas Chapter during a Memorial Day ceremony at the Central Texas Veterans Cemetery Monday in Killeen. The Waco couple lost their son, Sgt. Clint Dickey, Feb. 13, 2010. Dave Larsen, Sentinel Editor

Gold Star Families view a new stone bearing the names of recent fallen warriors from Central Texas following its unveiling during a Memorial Day ceremony at the Central Texas Veterans Cemetery Monday. The monument dedicated to the fallen in Iraq and Afghanistan was first established in 2005 by the Central Texas Fallen Heroes Foundation. This year marked the eighth stone dedicated at the monument. Dave Larsen, Sentinel Editor

A steady breeze kept Old Glory waving over a Memorial Day ceremony Monday at the Central Texas Veterans Cemetery in Killeen. Dave Larsen, Sentinel Editor

Grieving community members get consoling hugs as they visit the graves of loved ones lost following a Memorial Day ceremony at the Central Texas Veterans Cemetery in Killeen Monday. Dave Larsen, Sentinel Editor

Lt. Gen. Don Campbell Jr., III Corps and Fort Hood commanding general, addresses hundreds attending a Memorial Day ceremony at the Central Texas Veterans Cemetery in Killeen Monday. Dave Larsen, Sentinel Editor

Parents and their children enjoy the Harker Heights Memorial Day Parade Saturday morning. The 1st Cavalry Horse Detachment march with the colors in the parade. Dawn Pandoliano, Sentinel Design Editor

Many schools and community and military organizations march in the Harker Heights Memorial Day Parade Saturday morning. Dawn Pandoliano, Sentinel Design Editor

Sgt. First Class Lemoore Rangel and Staff Sgt. Shane Savage, both of whom are Purple Heart recipients, laid the wreath at the Memorial Ceremony Saturday at City Hall in Harker Heights. During the ceremony, “Taps” was played after a gun salute as those attending bowed their heads in memorium. Dawn Pandoliano, Sentinel Design Editor

Beverly Dickey walked tearfully beside her husband, Dale, as the couple carried a wreath representing the Blue Star Mothers of America’s Heart of Texas chapter presented during a Memorial Day ceremony at the Central Texas Veterans Cemetery in Killeen Monday.

The Dickeys, from Waco, are also Gold Star Family members. Their son, Sgt. Clint Dickey, died Feb. 13, 2010 in service to the nation. Besides the tears, the Dickeys felt something else, too.

“Pride,” Beverly said following the wreath laying ceremony.

Two ceremonies were held at the veterans’ cemetery, the first concluding with wreaths laid by numerous area veterans and civic groups, while the second dedicated a memorial stone for 43 Central Texas service members who gave their lives for their nation.

Cpl. Justin Baxter, a member of the 1st Cavalry Division’s Color Guard, carried in the American flag to open the first ceremony. He said it was a great honor to participate in the ceremony Monday.

“It’s huge,” he said. “To come out here and pay respect to all the generations of Soldiers who came before … and to pay the highest respect for those who made the ultimate sacrifice is important.”

Fort Hood and III Corps Commanding General Lt. Gen. Don Campbell Jr., was the first guest speaker at the wreath laying ceremony.

“For many Americans, this day marks the first day of the summer and a time to enjoy Family, friends and the beautiful country we live in,” Campbell told hundreds in attendance. “These freedoms are not possible without the sacrifices of our best and bravest men and women. That is why we are here today: to remember their sacrifices.”

The general recalled the multitude of Americans who have paid the ultimate price for freedom.

“This Memorial Day, we are reminded of the more than one million service members who have sacrificed their lives while serving this great nation,” he said. “These heroes came from all walks of life, from every corner of our great land. They were all ordinary people – living ordinary lives – who were asked to make extraordinary sacrifices in extraordinary times for their country.”

Campbell was followed by the reading of a letter from former President George W. Bush and special guest speaker Jerry Patterson of the Texas Land Commission. Patterson, too, discussed the nature of heroes, noting that heroes need not be rock stars, actors and professional athletes.

“We should look up to those who serve,” Patterson said. “My son flies Cobras. He’s coming home soon (from Afghanistan). He’s a hero of mine.”

Patterson, a Vietnam veteran, said serving in the military breaks down all cultural barriers and prejudices, noting that patriotism isn’t based on an individual’s race, color or creed.

“It doesn’t make any difference who you are or where you’re from,” he said. “We’re all the same. We raised our right hand and we took an oath to support and defend our constitution.”

Following the wreath laying ceremony, a second ceremony was held at the Iraq and Afghanistan War Memorial, where an eighth stone was unveiled bearing the names of 43 Central Texas service members killed in action.

Originally constructed in 2005 by the Central Texas Fallen Heroes Foundation, the circular memorial features photos of the fallen warriors facing the center, with their names etched on the outside of each stone.

“We did that for a reason,” Patrick Turk, one of the founders of the memorial site said prior to unveiling this year’s stone. “Those aren’t just names etched in stone. They were real people, our neighbors.”

Following Turk’s remarks, country music artist Jackie Cox sang his song, “Thank You Is Not Enough,” written for the occasion. Once the stone was unveiled, Families of the fallen were given the opportunity to view it for the first time.