SAN ANTONIO – (May 30, 2022) – Memorial Day is a day about gratitude and remembrance, not just about a day off. It is to remember those men and women who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
In honor of those men and women who lost their lives serving this nation, Fred Brock American Legion Post 828 held its annual Memorial Day Ceremony at the post’s event center.
The keynote speaker was retired Lt. Col. Mary Woolridge, U.S. Air Force Reserve, who served in the Nurse Corps from February 1987 to March 2008 with numerous humanitarian tours to places such as Honduras, Saudi Arabia, Belize and Portugal.
“It is a good thing for us to be together not only to celebrate the lives of those who died in active military service to the nation, but more importantly to remember the cause for which they died,” said Wooldridge. “It speaks of how grateful we are to those who paid the ultimate price.”
During the ceremony, 1st Vice Commander Burrell Parmer, the newly elected post commander, read the names of the Legionnaires who entered Post Everlasting: Gerald Griffin, Rodney McNeil, Robert Oliver, Henry Ross, Raymond Taylor, Roosevelt Tennessee and Lawrence Tucker.
“Memorial Day is not about picnics and parades – though there is nothing wrong with enjoying and celebrating our American way of life,” Parmer remarked. “Memorial Day is about gratitude and remembrance. It is about honoring the men and women who made it possible for us to be able to gather here at the post in peace.”
Towards the ceremony’s conclusion, the post family gathered in front of the post’s Veteran Wall of Honor to hear the Memorial Day Proclamation, the presentation of a wreath and the sounding of taps.
Afterwards, a reception was held with a live performance by local old-school R&B group NCS.
“As always, it’s humbling to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice,” said Legionnaire Edward Jones, a Marine veteran and the post’s newly-elected service officer. “We must not let that sacrifice go in vain. We all must do our part to continue protecting our freedoms the honorees gave their all for.”
At noon, Parmer briskly raised the colors from half-staff.
Throughout the day, the post family and their guests had the opportunity to view a Texas Honor Wall depicting photos of Texans who died during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan from 2002 to 2018.
