Trenton honors veterans with city wide celebration
November 11 kicked off a chilly Veteran’s Day morning at Oakland Cemetery to honor the lives of the soldiers who have fallen protecting our town and country. Although the winds rushed across the graves of the fallen, the cold morning didn’t stop people from gathering to watch the raising of Old Glory. the Vietnam Veterans of America perform a presentation of the Colors and somberly raised the flag. After Jim Lee Placed wreaths on the Veterans, there was a moment of remembrance as Peabody High school Band Director James Young performed “Taps.”
“Veteran’s Day is a day that we honor our living veterans. But it’s very proper for us to come out and honor those veterans of the past, many of them who have died in service to our country,” Trenton Mayor Tony Burriss said. “We do this every Veteran’s Day. Before we go out and celebrate at the Armory, we come here and honor the veterans who are buried at the Oakland Cemetery.”
The gathered crowd processed out of the Oakland Cemetery and followed Mayor Burriss to the National Guard Armory, the host of this year’s Veteran’s Day Celebration. The armory’s auditorium was packed out with Trenton citizens, county officials,
Four Tactical Virtues: Chief Warrant Officer Jayson D. Keel addresses the crowd at Trenton National Armory
commissioners, and even the Peabody Middle School Band, who performed The Armed Forces Medley later in the program.
Honor and Respect: Veterans receive high fives from Trenton East Elementary students following their Veteran’s day program
Gibson County Mayor Nelson Cunningham opened with program by reminding them why they were present to begin with.
“Today, let us take a moment to reflect the values that our great veterans uphold; courage, commitment, and sacrifice,” Mayor Cunningham said. “These values are the foundation of our great nation. It is our responsibility to ensure that sacrifices are never forgot and continue to honor and support our veterans today and every day.”
The guest speaker was a Chief Warrant Officer Jayson D. Keel. He currently serves as state aviation standardization instructor pilot for the Tennessee Army National Guard. He has over thirty years of military service. Officer Keel not only spoke about the importance of remembering those who have fallen in the line of duty, but about the four tactical virtues he teaches his own students
and how to apply it to our own lives. These virtues are Honor, Strength, Courage and Mastery.
“My challenge to myself and those of you here today; let us strive to live a life worthy of the sacrifices they have made,” Officer Keel said. “Live honorably, challenge ourselves to be strong so that when any of these moments of adversity come, we can stand and be courageous.”
Once Keel finished his speech, Susan Dowdy gave a beautiful rendition of “God Bless America” and called the rest of the room to join in for the second half of the song, an intimate way to conclude the event before enjoying lunch provided by a donation given by the estate of Patricia Zarecor.
“Right now, it’s sad thing because our troops here at Trenton National Guard, they’re at Camp Lovenia, getting ready to move out to Memphis,’ Betty Poteet said. She explained that although the troops are being moved, it allowed for the Guard’s facility to be used in the Veteran’s Day celebration. “Today was a very special day, and I’m so happy so many people turned out.”
The National Guards’ movement to Memphis reminds us that although Trenton is able to celebrate together for the veterans’ it reminds us of the soldiers who are currently deployed or in active duty. Their sacrifice gives us this opportunity to celebrate our veteran’s lives and accomplishments in safety.
