Ceremony conducted Tuesday at the Veteran’s Memorial
Shelby County Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8904 and the Auxiliary remembered the service and sacrifice of Americans who participated in Desert Storm Tuesday, Feb. 28 with a a wreath laying at the Veterans Memorial on the grounds of the 1885 Historic Courthouse in Center.
Post Quartermaster Larry Hume greeted those attending before calling on Post Chaplain Kenneth Ramsey to lead the prayer. “O lord we thank you for the sacrifices our desert storm veterans made for us and for world peace. We gather here in these moments to remember them. May this day be a day of commemoration to honor those who served. Amen.”
Following the prayer, Hume led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
“Good morning and thank you for being here today,” Hume began his address. “As part of the Gulf War Operation, Desert Storm began on January 17, 1991 when Coalition Forces from 34 nations led by the United States began aerial bombardment of Iraq. This was in response to Iraq’s invasion and annexation of Kuwait.
“A week later on January 24, a ground assault began the liberation of Kuwait and advancement into Iraqi territory.
“After 42 days of relentless attacks by the allied coalition in the air and on the ground,” Hume continued, “President Bush declared a cease-fire on February 28, 1991, 32 years ago. One hundred forty-eight Americans had died in battle. There were another 145 nonbattle deaths and 467 wounded.
“We have no known casualties from Shelby County, but many served,” said Hume before asking if there were any Desert Storm veterans attending.
Hume noted Desert Storm veterans as Post Commander Richard Lundie, Past Post Commander Mike Langford, Post Member Pastor Wilburt Simmons, Post Member Andra Whitaker, Post Life Member Michael Boyd, Life Member David Hall, Life Member Nathan Jones, and Life Member Laresa Livingston.
In their honor, Desert Storm Veteran and Past Post Commander Mike Langford placed the post’s memorial wreath.
“Our presence today is a small but heartfelt thank you to the Desert Storm Veterans who died during the war, and to those who survived but have since passed and to those still living,” said Hume.
“If it were not for you gathered here, this day would have gone by unnoticed in Shelby County. The service and sacrifices of these veterans would not have been remembered. We cannot let any group of veterans be forgotten, that is our charge and again thank you for caring enough to be here today.
“In a final tribute,” Hume said, “Taps will be sounded by Past Post Commander Gene Hutto.
“This ends our program and thank you again,” said Hume. “Our next program will be Friday, March 24 when we remember those who served in Kosovo in 1999.”