GRAVETTE -- Members of the Gravette Historical Museum Commission held a Veterans Day service Sunday, Nov. 11, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the armistice at the end of World War I and to honor the memory of Gravette's air ace, Captain Field E. Kindley. The service was held at 2:30 p.m. at Hillcrest Cemetery, near the Kindley family burial plot.
Members of the Sonshine Quartet opened the service by singing the National Anthem. Jheri Roberts, chaplain of John E. Tracy American Legion Post 25, gave the invocation. A contingent of men, headed by Sgt. First Class Bobby Martin, from Bravo Battery, 2nd Battalion, of the 142nd field artillery, placed a wreath beside the tombstone of Captain Kindley. Members of the 142nd marched in Kindley's funeral procession in February 1920.
Kindley was born near Pea Ridge and attended Gravette schools while growing up in the home of his uncle, A.E. Kindley. He was the fourth-ranking air ace in World War I, with 12 official enemy kills, and earned the Distinguished Service Cross, the Bronze Oak Leaf and the British Flying Cross.
Bob Kelley, a member of the Gravette Historical Museum Commission, welcomed all who attended the service and introduced the speaker, Colonel Jim Hendren.
Colonel Jim Hendren, USAF Air Force veteran and a member of the Arkansas Air National Guard, was the keynote speaker for the occasion. Hendren, a state senator from Sulphur Springs, admitted that, although he grew up in Gravette, he didn'tknow much about Kindley's life and had to do some research to prepare his talk. He gave a brief history of World War I, touching on the lives of prominent figures, including Sgt. Alvin York and Manfred von Richthofen, the German air ace called the "Red Baron." Hendren told the crowd that Field Kindley shot down the Red Baron's brother during the war, a pilot credited with 40 enemy kills, and injured him so badly he was no longer able to return to flying.
After researching the "amazing life" of Field Kindley, Hendren said he feels area schools must do a better job of teaching war history.
"We must make kids understand our heritage," he said, "and it's not just the responsibility of the schools, but of the parents and community leaders."
He recounted how people are again showing appreciation to veterans, and the country is recognizing their service, telling how he often has persons come up to him when he is in uniform to thank him or to buy his meal in a restaurant.
Still, many veterans are not getting the respect they deserve, Hendren said, and noted, "We must never take our blessings for granted. We should always make time to remember the sacrifices that have been made to secure our freedoms."
He concluded by thanking all veterans present for their service, as well as members of the veterans' families.
Following Hendren's talk, Al Blair and Mike Carnahan, members of the John E. Tracy American Legion Post 25, lowered the American flag to half-staff, and a military salute was given by members of the honor guard. Veterans stood at attention as Wesley Hearne, a trumpeter with the Gravette High School band, played "Taps." After "Taps" was played, Blair and Carnahan returned the flag to full staff and Jheri Roberts concluded the program with the benediction, asking protection for all those servicemen and women still on active military duty.
A reception was held at the Kindley House Museum Annex following the service. Cookies, coffee and hot cider were served, and guests were able to see photos of Kindley and his funeral services, medals he earned and other items of Kindley memorabilia. A video presentation about Kindley's life was played during the reception.
Community on 11/14/2018