Walter Bell Gene Kent

Ceremony to honor veterans held at local VFW post

On Saturday, May 29, at 2 p.m., Bruce Wayne Osborne Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 7034 held a memorial dedication service to honor those who served in World War II.

"We thought that the gesture on the part of Alleghany County to recognize its own veterans this would be a good way to do it," Post Commander Eldon Edwards said prior to the ceremony. The event was timed to coincide with a dedication ceremony for the WWII memorial in Washington, D.C. Both events began at 2 p.m. Following the presentation of the colors, Sparta Mayor John Miller spoke.

"I think that it's so very fitting that they are dedicating- finally- the World War II memorial in Washington, DC. It should have been done 50 years ago, at least. This weekend, America honors the young soldiers who gave their lives for their nation's freedom, including those who fought to victory in World War II. This year, we celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the Allied invasion of France at Normandy," said Miller.

"A monument in our nation's capital has been built, belatedly and we hope our nation truly remembers. We remember that Europe, the Pacific and the world had suffered tyranny and war. Free nations had been conquered. Millions prayed for liberation. Millions more prayed for salvation in their dying hope that some few in their family might survive the Nazi death camp."

Miller went on, telling the audience how the nation's leaders have reminded Americans of the courage that the veterans showed when faced with daily adversity. The one he felt spoke best was Ronald Reagan, who told the tale of Pointe de Hoc on the fortieth anniversary of D-Day.

"There is a profound moral difference between the use of force for liberation and the use of force for conquest," Miller said. "Today our nation celebrates the greatest generation because they fought to liberate and not to conquer. We remember that they fought bravely, well and victoriously for democracy's survival."

Walter Bell, a member of the post, was stationed at Fort William McKinley when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

"By early January 1942, all the American and Philippine forces had left for the Japan peninsula." Despite cases of malaria, dingy fever combat wounds and other ailments, they held back the Japanese forces for more than three months.

"In the spring of 1942, the Japanese broke through, forcing the Philippine troops to surrender. Shortly after the surrender, the Bataan Death March began. I was a Prisoner Of War of the Japanese for 1,253 days."

Bell served from Aug. 1, 1939 until March 31, 1966. During his almost 27 years, among his decorations are the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart and the POW medal.

Not long after the bombs were dropped in Japan, "we were retrieved and returned home to America. God bless America."

Jack Conaway, who served in the Air Force, thanked the men and women who served during World War II for the sacrifices they made.

"I feel so humbled standing in your shadow, you allowed me to grow up in a free nation. The sacrifice this generation made is so important...we wouldn't even have this building today if you had not made the sacrifices you did."

"It was the kind of commitment and the sacrifices you made that gave me my passion for this country and my patriotism. I've very proud to have served in the Air Force. The patriotism you implanted in me I believe I passed on to my son Paul, (who) is a member of the North Carolina National Guard."

When asked if anyone else had anything to add, Tom Cox of Charlotte came to the podium.

"I take every opportunity I can to stand in front of a veteran and say thank you for what you've done for us," Cox said "It's something I think we're obliged to do. It's a joy to shake the hand of a man or woman of the United States Armed Forces who stands in harms way to protect what we have."

Senator Virginia Fox was asked to be the VFW's keynote speaker. However, she had a prior engagement and sent a newspaper clipping about veterans that Edwards shared.

Gene Kent, who is in the process of moving his VFW membership from Asheville to Sparta, was the day's keynote speaker. Kent served in Vietnam and hopes that children of the current and future generations are told of the sacrifices of "the greatest generation."

"In my travels across the state, I was privvied and honored to visit all the Veterans Affairs hospitals, rest homes that the state has and just come in and say hello to the vets who are bed-ridden in our rest homes. There are two words that make a big difference in their lives," reminds Kent. "They don't ask for anything else, just to come up and shake their hand and say thank you. Thank you goes a long way. If we can impart part of that to today's children, we would be a lot better off.

"We should also thank those who were at home. If it wasn't for them, we wouldn't have the beans and bullets.

The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that nearly 1.2 million men and women have died in the military since the Revolutionary War. More than 25 million veterans are alive today. Of the 16 million service members during World War II, only about 4.4 million are living.

In a proclamation issued on May 27, veterans of the "greatest generation" were singled out for special attention on Memorial Day.

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