Dear Editor:
I had the privilege of speaking at the annual Memorial Day ceremony in Union in my capacity as Commander of WV American Legion Post 100, which I have paraphrased below (the remarks were extemporaneous so an exact recounting is impossible):
“When I was growing up my parents’ generation referred to the military of any branch as simply, ‘the Service’ as in ‘When I was in the Service…’ or ‘Darwin’s boy joined the Service.’ That simple word says it all on this day. Memorial Day honors those whose service resulted in the ultimate sacrifice. I would wager that none of the 77 documented Monroe Countians killed in action over the decades intended to serve in a grandiose way that attracted attention, yet serve they did. To honor them, we can do likewise. If I was going to take a cue from Governor Justice I’d have a prop for my talk – in this case a towel. Why a towel? Perhaps the best lesson of the type of service mere mortals can offer is Jesus Christ’s decision to wash his disciples’ feet. This, I imagine, as they squabbled over the seating arrangement at the Last Supper and over who was the most important. Although those we honor today, like Jesus, sacrificed their mortal lives, their first service was of the more common kind available to everyone, anytime. One does not need to be the Son of God to serve others in quiet dignity without expecting praise or repayment in cash or kind. As Jesus himself put it, ‘…whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.’ So, in remembrance of our honored dead, let us “join the Service” with daily acts of quiet, simple kindness to others regardless of their background and without expectation of recognition or reward. My sincere thanks to my fellow Legionnaires, Chris Johnson, the JROTC “Maverick Battalion,” and the Maverick Chapter of the WV Vietnam Veterans of America for helping put together this special event every year and to those community members who came out to pay tribute to our war dead. I encourage the citizens of Monroe County and our elected officials to join us next year to pay tribute to those paid the ultimate price to defend our liberties.”
Scott E. Womack, Ed. D.
Lieutenant Colonel, Retired
U.S. Army
