Memorial Service Held At City Park

Correspondent

A sunrise service to honor the fallen veterans of American wars since 1775 was held at West Tawakoni City Park on Memorial Day.

A large crowd represented the civilians, high school students, Girl Scout Troop 1481, members of the host organization, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Ladies Auxiliary of Memorial Post 2559, members of the American Legion and Auxiliary of Post 517 and members of AMVETS Post 36.

The ceremony started as Girl Scout Jessica Jones and VFW Quartermaster John Ringwood solemnly raised the American Flag to full mast, and then slowly lowered the flag to half-mast as VFW Auxiliary District Musician Jennifer Jones sang the national anthem.

VFW Auxiliary District President JoAnne Ringwood spoke in somber terms of the sacrifice of all American veterans that have "shed their blood to nourish the tree of freedom" in a paraphrase of a quote from Thomas Jefferson.

She also spoke about the 786 American servicepersons that included 20 women that have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan since the last year’s observance of Memorial Day.

VFW Auxiliary President Cathy Jones then placed a wreath on the Veterans Memorial marker.

A prayer for all veterans was spoken by VFW Commander Rick Walker and then the crowd was called to attention as "Taps" was played in a soulful bugle call as the crowd saluted or held their right hand over their hearts.

The service was then concluded and coffee and donuts were offered to the crowd that was invited to the VFW home post.