Veterans' sacrifices remembered

Community memorial service held Monday at Gravette's Hillcrest Cemetery was reminder of the price of freedom

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

— President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address was a prelude to remarks made by Air Force Major Jim Hendren at a Memorial Day service Monday at Hillcrest Cemetery in Gravette.

After reading those famous words, Hendren reminded the crowd of the sacrifices of those who have served and those still serving to secure America’ freedom. He then posed the question: “What would those who have sacrificed so much say to us today? What would they tell us?”

“They would say, ‘Appreciate your family,’” Hendren suggested. “They would say, ‘Love your country.’ They would say, ‘Respect our flag.’”

He then addressed each of those points and their importance to Americans. He reminded the crowd of the importance of instilling those lessons in our children.

Hendren served eight years inthe Air Force as an F-15 fighter pilot and has just returned from several weeks of reserve service at an AF base in Hawaii.

The ceremony is an annual event sponsored by the Gravette American Legion Post. J.R. Gibbs, post adjutant, was emcee for the program.

Post Commander Mike Carnahan offered the invocation. Members of the local Girl Scout troop, Shelly Lowery, Rachel Jones and Christy and Millie Bramel, presided at the flag ceremony, and the Gravette band, directed by Mike Johnson with assistant Mark Hendricks, presented patriotic music, including the National Anthem. Adrian Holland played taps to conclude the solemn program.

The event was held in the center of the cemetery where many veterans rest and was just a few steps away from the grave of World War I air ace, Captain Field Kindley, for whom a park in Gravette is named.

The Avenue (of almosta hundred) Flags in the cemetery were flying at half-staff in the stiff breeze, and were raised to full-staff at the ceremony’s conclusion.

News, Pages 1 on 06/01/2011