Remembering those that gave the ultimate sacrifice… Memorial Day ceremony at Veterans War Memorial honors Carter County’s fallen
Published 3:19 pm Tuesday, June 1, 2021
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Bill Carter, Chairman of the Veterans War Memorial and Walk of Honor Oversight Committee, takes time to speak to those attending and participating in Monday's Memorial Day ceremony in downtown Elizabethton.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton Mayor Pro-Tem and Chairman of the Veterans War Memorial and Walk of Honor Oversight Committee, Bill Carter, welcomes everyone to Monday's Memorial Day ceremony at the Veterans War Memorial.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Reverend Raymond Amos - Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Elizabethton presented Monday's Invocation for the Memorial Day ceremony.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Teresa Bowers Parker performs the patriotic number 'America' followed by the National Anthem at Monday morning's Memorial Day ceremony.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders A veteran stands at attention while the National Anthem is being sung by Teresa Bowers Parker.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders A couple listens tentatively as the Memorial Day ceremony is conducted at the Veterans War Memorial.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Rick Walters, a veteran, and member of the Veterans War Memorial and Walk of Honor Oversight Committee presents a Memorial Day reading during the ceremony.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Major Greg Tester presents the POW-MIA Remembrance Ceremony during the Memorial Day ceremony at the Elizabethton Veterans War Memorial on Monday morning.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders A gentleman attending the ceremony rose and presented a salute as a name was called off during Monday's Memorial Day ceremony at the Veterans War Memorial.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Veterans took time to greet one another before the start of the Memorial Day ceremony on Monday.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Deacon Bowers (left) and Mayor Pro Tem Bill Carter (right) take time to chat with some attendees at Monday's ceremony at the Veterans War Memorial.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders The brotherhood of veterans took time to fellowship before and after the Memorial Day ceremony.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders An attendee kneels to take a photo of names on the Enduring Freedom Memorial.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders A POW-MIA table is set in memory of all those Prisoners of War and Missing in Action during Monday's Memorial Day ceremony at the Veterans War Memorial.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders A couple pauses to look at names on the World War II monument at the Veterans War Memorial.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders The sign over the entrance to the Veterans War Memorial says it all.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders A large crowd gathered for the Memorial Day ceremony at the Veterans War Memorial on Monday.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders A young boy and his mother take in the Memorial Day ceremony from behind the wall at the Veterans War Memorial in downtown Elizabethton.
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BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR STAFF
ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com
While many millions of Americans were enjoying the day off thanks to the Memorial Day holiday, there were many throughout the country who gathered to truly remember what the day was about and that was to honor those who have given their lives in service to their country while on the battlefield of action.
Here in Elizabethton, a group of people gathered at the Elizabethton/Carter County Veterans War Memorial in downtown Elizabethton to honor those from Carter County that gave the ultimate sacrifice in support of their country.
It was an emotional time for some, especially those veterans who remembered their fallen brethren.
“Since it’s Memorial Day, this is in honor of those individuals specifically here in Carter County that have given their lives – killed in action,” said Elizabethton Mayor Pro Tem and Chairman of the Veterans War Memorial and Walk of Honor Oversight Committee.
“We have sort of been shut down for the last year or so, so we thought this would be a good opportunity to set up a Memorial Day ceremony. We thought that this would be something special.
“The Veterans War Memorial and Walk of Honor Oversight Committee have put this together in grateful recognition of the supreme sacrifice of giving their lives for our country.”
There have been a total of 258 Carter Countians that have been killed in combat including 49 souls from World War I, 155 during World War II, 20 from the Korean War, 30 from the Vietnam conflict, and three from Enduring Freedom.
The War Memorial came about originally when a group of veterans led by Arthur ‘Deacon’ Bowers began to layout plans for the memorial.
It was completed in 2002 and the Walk of Honor has been ongoing with new names being added yearly.
Carter said the purpose of the Oversight Committee is to make sure maintenance is performed and we keep it standing tall in honor of those that were killed in action.
The ceremony included an opening invocation by the Reverend Raymond Amos, Pastor of Elizabethton First United Methodist Church.
Amos, a veteran himself a veteran, shared the pride of putting on his uniform for the first time while feeling his heart beat out of his chest and in his throat preparing to go down the path of the unknown along with others while being able to wear the same uniform back while others didn’t.
Carter led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag followed by an emotional patriotic rendition of ‘America’ and the National Anthem by Teresa Bowen Parker.
Local businessman and veteran Rick Walters presented a Memorial Day reading. Walters also serves on the Oversight Committee.
A POW-MIA Remembrance Ceremony was conducted by Major Greg Tester.
The symbolism of the elements at the table was shared by Tester and include:
– The table is round – to show our everlasting concern.
– The cloth is white – symbolizing the purity of their motives when answering the call to serve.
– The single red rose reminds us of the lives of these Americans….and their loved ones and friends who keep the faith, while seeking answers.
– The yellow ribbon symbolizes our continued uncertainty, hope for their return, and determination to account for them.
– A slice of lemon reminds us of their bitter fate, captured or missing in a foreign land.
– A pinch of salt symbolizes the tears of our missing and their families.
– The lighted candle reflects our hope for their return.
– The Bible represents the strength gained through faith to sustain us and those lost from our country, founded as one nation under God.
– The glass is inverted – to symbolize their inability to share a toast.
– The chairs are/chair is empty – they are missing.
A recognition and reading of the names of soldiers killed in action from Carter County was recorded and produced by Tom Hitchcock and read by the Boy Scouts of America Troop 516 led by Scoutmaster Rikki Dykes.
The ceremony was completed by the playing of Taps as those veterans present saluted the flag and their fallen comrades.
“Carter County is a very veteran-friendly city as well as the county and with Tennessee being the Volunteer State, it takes great pride in defending our country and making sure that we are free,” Carter concluded.
