“This is why I fight and why I continue to serve,” said Sgt. Theresa Flannery, as she held her 2-year old son on a stage where she was once crowned Miss Madison County and Miss Teen Madison County.
Flannery, a 1997 graduate of Madison Southern High School who spent most of 2004 with the U.S. Army in Iraq, was recognized Friday evening as the second annual Kentucky Veterans Welcome Home Celebration began at the Madison County Fair Grounds.
Flannery joined the military in 2000, had already fulfilled her two-year active duty assignment and was assigned to the Lexington-based 15th Transportation Reserve Company, when she was activated in December 2003.
The next month she was driving vehicles in Iraq. On April 4, 2004, her unit came under attack by insurgents who hoped to kill or capture a member of U.S. Ambassador Paul Bremer’s staff in the volatile city of Najaf.
For nearly 12 hours, she was operating a rifle rather than an automobile, firing off 800 rounds.
She was the only woman in a continent of about 20 Americans that stood with Spanish soldiers to hold off an attack by more than 1,000 insurgents.
“I fractured my hand as I jumped to the ground to take cover,” she said. “I heard two bullets whiz past my head as I fell.” Two of her comrades were wounded as the attack began.
“Their blood is still on these boots,” she said, pointing to her unpolished footwear.
“My hand was swollen, but it was not diagnosed as fractured until two weeks later,” she said. “It hurt as I was firing my rifle, but when you’re fighting for your life, you forget about the pain.”
She was awarded a purple heart and a combat citation for valor.
Flannery said both of her brothers, David and Christopher, followed her into the military.
Their parents are David and Maggie Flannery of Berea.
Flannery, who now lives in Lexington, is set to receive two associate’s degrees from the Bluegrass Community and Technical College in May. She hopes to receive those diplomas before returning for a second tour of duty next year in Iraq.
After Flannery spoke, a group of 18 young people from Kentucky, three of whom are joining the Army and 15 others going into the Air Force, took the recruit’s oath to defend the U.S. Constitution.
“A lot of young people are stepping up to carry the torch of American freedom,” said Chuck Sawyers, a U.S. Marine veteran of the Vietnam War who chairs the celebration’s organizing committee.
U.S. Air Force Capt. Centron Felder said recruiters in Kentucky have met their goals since 1999.
After the opening ceremony, the celebration’s focus shifted to the traveling copy of the Vietnam War Memorial.
The third Friday in September is always a day of remembrance for Prisoners of War and those still listed as Missing in Action, said Emerson McAfee, another Vietnam veteran who serves on the celebration committee.
Those in attendance stood in solemn silence as the setting sun cast long shadows toward the memorial that stretches for nearly 300 feet.
Nancy Pickle, a member of the Madison Southern High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, concluded the ceremony by playing taps.
The celebration livened up afterward as Faded Blue, which plays Motown and southern rock tunes, took to the performance stage at 7 p.m. Country artist Tim Hellard of Berea performed at 9.
The celebration continues today and Sunday.
Bill Robinson can be reached at brobinson@richmondregister.com or at 623-1669, Ext. 267.
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Honoring our brave veterans
Female Iraq vet describes combat
- Local News
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Pallbearers from the Madison County Sheriff's Department place Sheriff Jerry Combs' coffin in a hearse following his funeral at Church on the Rock north of Berea.
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Hundreds pay tribute as Sheriff Combs is laid to rest
Dozens of his fellow law enforcement officers from around Kentucky came to Church on the Rock on Saturday morning to pay a last tribute to Madison County Sheriff Jerry Combs, who later was laid to rest after a funeral at the church.
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Madison Central High School
Eastern Kentucky University. The school graduated 403 students, and 21 of those were Commonwealth Diploma recipients. Class secretary Caroline Smith gave the opening remarks, and class president Mackenzie Humphrey delivered the address. All speakers at the MCHS graduation were senior class officers who gave the opening, invocation and benediction.
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Madison Southern High School
Madison Southern High School graduated 250 seniors Saturday afternoon at Eastern Kentucky University’s Alumni Coliseum.
Senior class president Kelsey Choate gave the welcoming. Mona Isaacs, chair of the Madison County Board of Education, gave remarks congratulating the seniors on completing an important milestone in their lives, and welcoming them into society as young adults.
Music at the ceremony was provided by the MSHS symphonic band, directed by David Ratliff, and the MSHS choir, directed by Letha Hembree. -
White Hall teachers say farewell for the summer
White Hall Elementary kindergarten assistant Patti Von Fischer said she found a poem on the Internet that seemed to fit the last day of school perfectly.
“The teachers jumped out of the windows; the principals ran for the door; the nurse and librarian bolted; they’re not coming back anymore,” Von Fischer read over the loudspeaker Friday before students left for the summer. -
Benson will be state’s third highest paid university president
When Michael Benson begins his tenure as the 12th president of Eastern Kentucky University on Aug. 1, his $400,000 salary plus benefits will make him Kentucky’s third-highest paid state university president.
Benson’s pay will be less only than that of Eli Capilouto, president of the University of Kentucky, $500,000 a year, and Gary Ransdell, president of Western Kentucky University, $423,588 a year, according to figures obtained from the state Council on Post-secondary education.
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Hundreds pay tribute as Sheriff Combs is laid to rest
- Sports
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TRACK: Middle school athletes set for state meet
Last weekend, track athletes from Madison County's four high school's had their chance to compete against the state's best in the KHSAA State Track Championships at the University of Louisville.
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OVC: BASEBALL: Colonels hold off SEMO, advance to final three
Despite holding a nine-run lead, the Eastern Kentucky University baseball team had to hold off a Southeast Missouri State rally for a 12-9 victory in an elimination game at the 2013 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Friday in Jackson, Tenn.
The No. 5 seeded Colonels are one of the final three teams remaining. -
YOUTH LEAGUES: Signups for leagues underway
The Richmond Little League will begin sign-ups for this year’s fall season on Saturday, June 1 from 10 a.m. to noon.
Sign-ups are also scheduled for Monday, June 3 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, June 8 from 10 a.m. to noon.
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TRACK: Middle school athletes set for state meet
- Lifestyles & Community
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Father/Daughter Dance is June 14 at RAAC
Dads and daughters will take to the dance floor Friday, June 14, for the second annual Father/Daughter Dance to benefit the Hope’s Wings Domestic Violence Program.
The ball will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Richmond Area Arts Center, 399 W. Water St. - Disease, thieves were all part of life on the farm
- Rain, hot weather will make lawns, gardens grow
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Father/Daughter Dance is June 14 at RAAC
- Viewpoints
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Graduation Day
It is that time of year again.
Some years ago, I was invited to speak at the graduation ceremonies of a liberal arts college. Later, many in the audience told me they expected a very political speech. Some of them were relieved; others were disappointed. I don't do politics at graduation.
Graduation is about life.
My high school graduation was OK. I gave a speech. My family was there, intact, probably as happy as they ever were (But did I know?). We went out for Chinese food afterward. - Coal problem worth tackling in Washington and Frankfort
- Peter Perlman — Life lessons from a lawyer’s lawyer
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