Hundreds of people gathered for the 2nd Annual Veterans Day ceremony in downtown Forney, Texas, on Sunday afternoon, November 10, 2013.
Many veterans were present wearing reminders of their service to their country. Cadet Barnes with the Forney High School Air Force Junior ROTC program spoke on the history of Veterans Day and was followed by Assistant Dallas County Veteran Service Officer and US Army retired SFC James Henderson.
Henderson served 24 years in the United States Army as a combat infantryman and as a chaplain’s assistant after enlisting in 1983. He received advanced training at Fort Benning as well as Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
Henderson spoke on the past, present, and future of Veterans Day including Public Law 94-97 which redesignated the 11th day of November as Veterans Day. “The restoration of this observance back to November the 11th not only preserved the historical significance of the day but helped to focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day which is a celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice the common good,” said Henderson.
“As we honor this nation's heros, both past and present, remember the many sacrifices that were observed to protect our freedoms and our ways of life. Sacrifices like missing the birth of a child because of deployment or missing the first wedding anniversaries or missing that golden anniversary of a parent,” Henderson said. “My fellow veterans, these significant events are lost, we can’t get them back. But, be reassured that the citizens of this great nation will never forget what we have done and they will always remember and honor its heros.”
Texas Veterans Commission Employment Representative Roxann Griffith attended the downtown ceremony. “A lot of people aren't aware of our Terrell location,” said Griffith who had a booth with educational information and information on the Terrell office. Griffith's office is located at 109 Tejas Drive, Suite 300, Terrell, Texas 75160.
The Forney High School Air Force Junior ROTC presented the colors and also held a flag-folding ceremony. The Forney High School Chamber Choir sung the Naitonal Anthem for the ceremony. The Veterans Day ceremony was held in conjunction with the Turkey Trax Car Show.
Henderson served 24 years in the United States Army as a combat infantryman and as a chaplain’s assistant after enlisting in 1983. He received advanced training at Fort Benning as well as Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
Henderson spoke on the past, present, and future of Veterans Day including Public Law 94-97 which redesignated the 11th day of November as Veterans Day. “The restoration of this observance back to November the 11th not only preserved the historical significance of the day but helped to focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day which is a celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice the common good,” said Henderson.
“As we honor this nation's heros, both past and present, remember the many sacrifices that were observed to protect our freedoms and our ways of life. Sacrifices like missing the birth of a child because of deployment or missing the first wedding anniversaries or missing that golden anniversary of a parent,” Henderson said. “My fellow veterans, these significant events are lost, we can’t get them back. But, be reassured that the citizens of this great nation will never forget what we have done and they will always remember and honor its heros.”
Texas Veterans Commission Employment Representative Roxann Griffith attended the downtown ceremony. “A lot of people aren't aware of our Terrell location,” said Griffith who had a booth with educational information and information on the Terrell office. Griffith's office is located at 109 Tejas Drive, Suite 300, Terrell, Texas 75160.
The Forney High School Air Force Junior ROTC presented the colors and also held a flag-folding ceremony. The Forney High School Chamber Choir sung the Naitonal Anthem for the ceremony. The Veterans Day ceremony was held in conjunction with the Turkey Trax Car Show.