BEREA — The American and Kentucky flags flapped in a brisk breeze Sunday as 16 junior ROTC Air Force cadets marched behind the banners, first around Ellipse Street and then up Jefferson Street from Berea Community School to Memorial Park.
The teenagers’ shiny black shoes moved in unison as their commander called a snappy cadence. The veterans who had marched off to war as stout young men 40 to 70 years earlier rode behind them in a small bus.
The aging veterans – some stooped, others steadied by canes – took the front row seats of honor under a Memorial Park pavilion as the cadets stood at attention for the city of Berea’s annual Veterans Day ceremony.
The JROTC corps commander, Lainy Barrick, led the gathering in the Pledge of Allegiance and Erica Jackson sang The National Anthem.
As friends and family of the veterans moved closer in, Berea Mayor Steve Connelly and state Rep. Lonnie Napier, R-Lancaster, offered praise and thanks for their service.
While many of America’s great heroes, such as George Washington, were veterans, Napier said, many more “quiet heroes are all around us. They are our friends, our neighbors and family members.”
Veterans Day, which will be observed nationally on Wednesday, should be a day of resolve as well as a day to remember brave veterans, Napier said.
“Let us resolve to carry on their proud tradition, so that the veterans who came before us shall not have sacrificed in vain,” he said.
Quoting former President Calvin Cooledge, he said, “The nation that forgets its veterans will itself be forgotten.”
As the wind blew and brown oak leaves rustled in the grass, Connelly read the names of service members from Berea who died in World Wars I and II, Korea and Vietnam.
He then read the rosters of Berea’s two American Legion posts, including some who died this year.
The commanders of the two posts, Charles Strawser and John Jacobs, then joined Connelly in placing a wreath at the monument where the names of those killed in action are inscribed.
The a rifle squad from the local Marine Corps League, dressed in their distinctive red jackets, fired three volleys followed by the playing of taps.
As the Marine veterans clamped the safeties on their rifles, many lingered to savor the moment and several older veterans wished each other well.
A Vietnam veteran, Carl Roberts, said he was disappointed that the ceremony did not include a prayer “thanking God for our country.”
Bill Robinson can be reached at brobinson@ richmondregister.com or at 624-6622.
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Berea honors veterans
City holds parade, wreath-laying ceremony
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Union City Day
Billy Wall, James Miller and Lyne Thompson of Stoney Run perform bluegrass and gospel music Saturday at Union City Day.
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Richmond City Commission candidate profiles
This is one of the profiles in the second section of a two-part series featuring all 14 Richmond City Commission candidates. The first section printed in Saturday's Register. Citizens may vote on May 22 in the primary elections to choose eight.
Richard Thomas, 71, has served on the Richmond City Commission for the past 16 months, and said he wants to continue working to improve the city’s infrastructure, services and financial reserves without raising taxes.
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Richmond City Commission candidate profiles
This is one of the profiles in the second section of a two-part series featuring all 14 Richmond City Commission candidates. The first section printed in Saturday's Register. Citizens may vote on May 22 in the primary elections to choose eight.
Doug Parker ran for city commission in the past two elections but believes voters will turn to him this time.
Parker, 43, is director of operations for a facilities management firm. -
Richmond City Commission candidate profiles
This is one of the profiles in the second section of a two-part series featuring all 14 Richmond City Commission candidates. The first section printed in Saturday's Register. Citizens may vote on May 22 in the primary elections to choose eight.
Richmond firefighter Jim Newby says he wants to see the city grow rather than continue to cut back.
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Richmond City Commission candidate profiles
This is one of the profiles in the second section of a two-part series featuring all 14 Richmond City Commission candidates. The first section printed in Saturday's Register. Citizens may vote on May 22 in the primary elections to choose eight.
In her first race for public office, Laura Durham Morgan has spent many hours on her feet going door to door talking to voters, she said.
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Union City Day
- Sports
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H.S. BASEBALL: Indians not looking past the pirates
Madison Central has won five-straight 44th District baseball titles.
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H.S. SOFTBALL: District title up for grabs
Judging only by the results of the regular-season meetings between the four Madison County schools, it would be nearly impossible to predict the outcome of this week’s 44th District Softball Tournament.
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BOWLING: Cracraft leads the way at Galaxy
The top scores bowled at Galaxy last week were a 269 game by Matt Cracraft in the Monday Mixed League and a 719 series by Randy Burgess Sr. in the non-sanctioned Wednesday Summer League.
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H.S. BASEBALL: Indians not looking past the pirates
- Lifestyles & Community
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We are heirs and joint-heirs to His kingdom
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
“For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. — Rom 8:14-19 - How little exercise is necessary for good health?
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- Viewpoints
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Graduation day
It’s that time of year. What’s the old song? “I can still remember...” And I do. It’s what I talk about when I’m invited to be a graduation speaker and what I write about every year at this time.
It’s about all those painful memories. - Recent news could cause panic for Obama campaign
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