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'Indebted to them'

Speaker advises helping living vets as way to honor the fallen

MATT McKEAN/TimesDaily
Members of Post 31 of the American Legion rifle team, Steve Boatwright, Bill Gober and Arthur Chandler fire a salute during the Memorial Day ceremonies at the Colbert County Courthouse on Monday.

By Bernie Delinski
Staff Writer

Published: Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, May 29, 2006 at 11:00 p.m.

TUSCUMBIA - An American flag was just to the right of retired Lt. Col. Walter Bennett as he stepped to the podium Monday during a Memorial Day ceremony outside the Colbert County Courthouse.

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To his left, flags representing various branches of the U.S. military waved in the occasional wind gust.

Bennett then rattled off a list of solemn statistics about heroes who served under those flags:

  • World War I saw 19 Colbert County residents die in battle. That number jumped to 90 in World War II. Seven died in Korea, 28 in Vietnam and two in the Persian Gulf War.

  • More than 600,000 Americans died in the Civil War, from either the Confederate or Union side, including 261 from Lauderdale County.

  • 2,756 American soldiers have died in ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. That number includes 20 Alabamians, including Lauderdale County's Marine Cpl. Matthew Conley.

    "They fought for us, they bled for us and for us they fell," said Bennett, a member of the Colbert County American Legion Post 31, which sponsors the annual ceremony.

    "Let us not remember them in anguish," Bennett said. "They want not our pity, only the solemn pride of knowing they gave it all for us.

    "Because of what they did and continue to do, our world is indebted to them."

    Bennett said the heavy price they paid has given us the freedom we enjoy. He suggests a way to honor them.

    "The best way is to serve those who came home sick and wounded, especially those who have the greatest needs," Bennett said.

    He points out there are disabled veterans in need of our assistance every day.

    Nearly 19,000 U.S. military men and women have been injured since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Bennett said.

    He said 52 percent of them couldn't return to action within 72 hours.

    "That means long after the battle in Iraq and in Afghanistan, the wheelchairs will keep on rolling," Bennett said. "They will need our assistance."

    Bennett said local soldiers have been sent overseas in recent years.

    "They have served, or are serving, and they may have to return," he said. "Some may not come back."

    As Bennett looked at the displays at the courthouse and among the crowd, he said it's easy to sense the feelings of gratitude.

    "It's only natural that the panorama of this day be emblazoned with the bold colors of red, white and blue," he said. "Hundreds of thousands have given their lives over the past two centuries.

    "Because of what they did and continue to do, our world is indebted to them."

    Monday's ceremony including a 21-gun and a cannon salute, as well as the playing of "Taps."

    Post 31 Commander Paul Thompson told the crowd -- many of whom served in wars -- the annual ceremony means so much to so many.

    "Comrades, this day is sacred," Thompson said. "May the ceremonies today deepen your reverence for those who have fallen."

    Bernie Delinski can be reached at 740-5739 or bernie.delinski@timesdaily.com.

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