What a wonderful turnout we had for the day.There were 27 Veterans' that had lunch with us that day. All ages and from many different war times. Some came in the military uniform and they certainly enjoyed chatting about their military life.
After eating the Am Vets did a program remembering the many war heroes, MIA , POW's and those killed in action.. A Table was set in memory of them . They told what each item on the table and what each thing such as the folded chair represented. It was very educational for me as I did not have any idea of the true meaning, such as the folded chair representing the empty place at the table.
Lunch room full of those waiting for lunch.
Lunch line. Veterans' and the spouses first.
The tables filled fast.
Then it was time for the program to start.
Waiting to take there place.
Am Vet Color Guard.
After the Color Guard was in place Bronna intoduced Donald Van Epps home on leave after graduating from Marine Boot Camp.
Donald enjoyed talking to many of the Veterans' there
It was a wonderful day and a very meaningful day for everyone .
The following pictures are just general pictures taken of a few of our Veterans' .
As the day draws to a close I remember and I say "Thank You to All Our Veterans Past and Present. "
And this poem written by Johnny Cash makes me think of all our Veterans'
Ragged Old Flag
I walked through a county courthouse square,
On a park bench an old man was sitting there.
I said, "Your old courthouse is kinda run down."
He said, "Naw, it'll do for our little town."
And that's a Ragged Old Flag you got hanging on it.
He said, "Have a seat", and I sat down.
"Is this the first time you've been to our little town?"
I said, "I think it is." He said, "I don't like to brag,
But we're kinda proud of that Ragged Old Flag."
"You see, we got a little hole in that flag there
When Washington took it across the Delaware.
And it got powder-burned the night Francis Scott Key
Sat watching it writing _Oh Say Can You See_.
And it got a bad rip in New Orleans
With Packingham and Jackson tuggin' at its seams."
"And it almost fell at the Alamo
Beside the Texas flag, but she waved on through.
She got cut with a sword at Chancellorsville
And she got cut again at Shiloh Hill.
There was Robert E. Lee, Beauregard, and Bragg,
And the south wind blew hard on that Ragged Old Flag."
"On Flanders Field in World War I
She got a big hole from a Bertha gun.
She turned blood red in World War II
She hung limp and low by the time it was through.
She was in Korea and Vietnam.
She went where she was sent by her Uncle Sam."
"She waved from our ships upon the briny foam,
And now they've about quit waving her back here at home.
In her own good land she's been abused --
She's been burned, dishonored, denied and refused."
"And the government for which she stands
Is scandalized throughout the land.
And she's getting threadbare and wearing thin,
But she's in good shape for the shape she's in.
'Cause she's been through the fire before
And I believe she can take a whole lot more."
"So we raise her up every morning, Take her down every night.
We don't let her touch the ground And we fold her up right.
On second thought I DO like to brag,
'Cause I'm mighty proud of that Ragged Old F
I would like to share one more "Thank You" and picture. And that is to Donald L.VanEpps
the latest of my family to become a currant Veteran. The picture is the proud father and grandmother taken Veterans Day at the Adrian Senior Center.
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