On the eve of Memorial Day, around 50 people converged at the Stella Veterans Memorial to remember veterans.
The program consisted of an opening and closing prayer, American flag raising and salute by the Stella Boy Scout Troop No. 98, a patriotic song, an address by Tom Higdon and closed with Taps.
Higdon is a Vietnam veteran, who served in the Army from 1967 to 1970 as a lieutenant in the Army military intelligence corp., and with the 25th Infantry Division. He told the group about his time in war.
“Even though I was not involved in daily combat duty, my main job in intelligence was to try to protect those who were in combat,” Higdon said. “Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn’t. I will never know how many times it did or did not. We just tried to do our best to save lives each and every day.”
Higdon remarked about hearing the news on John Finn, a U.S. Navy veteran who had passed away at the age of 100.
Finn was the last surviving man to be awarded the Medal of Honor during Pearl Harbor attack, Dec. 7, 1941.
“There were 14 others who also received the Medal of Honor that day,” Higdon said. “John always said that ‘we were not the true hero, it was those who died that day who were the real heroes.’ I am sure this is what most veterans will tell you that they are not the heroes, but that it is those who died in combat and paid the supreme sacrifice for their country in all wars. These are the true heroes for sure. However, all veterans have served their country to protect our freedom we enjoy today and we must not forget them.”
Higdon noted that he had several friends who are listed on the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C. Among them are three who grew up with Higdon in Neosho: John C. “Wally” Wallace, Terry Zumalt and Roger Patton.
“To me, these are the true heroes who never got to come home alive and see their families and friends,” he said. “I will never forget them. I have visited the wall many times and will continue to do so the rest of my life. I am sure some of you here today have family or friends who did not come home, too.”
Higdon remarked that he thinks it is an honor when people will recognize a veteran and especially walk up to them on the street and say, “thank you for serving and being a veteran” or say, “welcome home.”
The keynote speaker read two poems, “Who is a Veteran?” and “Flag Poem.”
“The flag has always meant everything to me and I will always honor it all my life as I am sure most of you do also,” he said. “In closing, I would like to say that as we honor those who have served in the military, both men and women, and especially those who gave their lives for us, we will remember them forever.”
