GRAVETTE -- A good crowd gathered Monday morning at Gravette's Hillcrest Cemetery for the annual Memorial Day observance. After a rainy Sunday, the sun came out and was shining brightly during the program.
Bill Crose, commander of Gravette American Legion Post 25, welcomed guests to the service. Then, Girl Scouts Christy Bramel and Rachel Jones, from Gravette Girl Scout Troop 5497, raised the flag of the United States of America and led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Eric Meyer, pastor of the Gravette and Sulphur Springs United Methodist Churches, gave the invocation. He based his devotion on John 15:13, "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
Guest speaker for the program was State Senator Jim Hendren, of Gravette. Hendren is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve. He too referred to the John 15:13 Scripture and noted that those who gave their lives in all wars made that sacrifice not just for their friends and relatives, but also for those they didn't know and for the concepts of freedom and liberty. All who gave their lives are worthy of recognition, he said.
Hendren gave a brief account of the numbers who died in all wars, from the first five persons who died in the American Revolution to lay the groundwork for the formation of our country to the last four who have been lost in Operation Inherent Resolve, the fight against Isis. He gave honor to all those "who cared about this country and cared about freedom, signed up, said goodbye to their families and never came back."
Hendren urged his listeners to teach their children about the human cost to our freedom that is so easy to forget. "Take some time to remember and respect them," he said, "and teach your children about them for they won't know if we don't teach them."
Having recently returned from spending time with troops now on active duty, Hendren said he observed that our servicemen are getting tired.
"Our country has allowed military readiness to fall while asking our troops to do more and more," he said, expressing a hope that our legislators would begin to translate their appreciation for the servicemen's efforts into national security policy.
In conclusion, Hendren thanked all those in the crowd for attending, when many people were at the lake, having a picnic or a barbecue. "This tells me that there is hope," he said, "and that this generation gets it."
Band member Johnathan Ivers, a 2015 graduate of Gravette High School, played taps to close out the program.
General News on 05/27/2015