Brownwood’s annual Veterans Day program took place at VFW Post 3278 Friday, a change from the usual location of the Central Texas Veterans Memorial due to chilly conditions, but the weather couldn’t deter the tradition of celebrating the service and sacrifice of the members of the United States Armed Forces.
State Senator Phil King, who served as a Colonel in the Texas State Guard, gave the keynote address and spoke of the history of Texans serving in the United States military.
“We’re here today to honor you, our veterans, and of course their families along with them,” King said. “We’re also here to recall our history and that’s a very important part of Veterans Day and Memorial Day, to look back at the history of our service in Texas.”
King cited Texas’ battle for independence, followed by the Mexican-American War, Civil War and Spanish-American War. King then spoke about World War I in which 200,000 Texas served and then World War II, where 750,000 Texans served. Regarding the Korean conflict, King referred to 290,000 Texas who served, and stated 500,000 Texans are Vietnam veterans.
“As we stand here today, 77 Texans have been awarded the Medal of Honor, 38 of those posthumously,” King said. “We have over 1.4 million military veterans living in Texas, which is more than any other state. Texas also uniquely has a very substantive, large military with three branches and over 24,000 service members – The Texas Army National Guard, The Texas Air National Guard and The Texas State Guard.”
Navy Commander Chaplain Jim Looby, who gave the invocation and benediction, also reminisced about his time in the service.
“56 years ago, I remember it clearly, our arrival at the San Antonio airport,” Looby said. “I had enlisted in the United States Air Force. The pain began as soon as we stepped off the plane,” Looby added with a laugh. “The magnificent two-striper, complete with his Yogi Bear hat, had us standing on footprints right outside the airplane and commenced to screaming and yelling at us, and intimidating us. We learned how to be a member of the United States Air Force, and soon we began to get used to this new climate into which were inaugurated. It turned out to be fun.
“We entered, unknowingly at the time, into a line that stretches back into the 1700s in this country, people who were ready at a moment’s notice, a minute’s notice. These individuals comprise a long line of veterans and as we gather here today we remember them and we also know about each other and we tell one another we are proud to have served my country in my branch of service.”
Brownwood Mayor Stephen Haynes spoke of not having served in the military, which he credited veterans for making a possibility as the draft was discontinued on Dec. 7, 1972.
“On days like today, when we honor veterans, there’s a part of me that regrets I have not served,” Haynes said. “But in my regret I see it from a different angle and I realize one of the reasons I was never in the military is because I was raised in an era of peace. I can think of no great compliment to give to our veterans than to tell you I was raised in an era of peace. Three generations of people have now been raised in an era of peace. I was raised in an era of peace, my son has been raised in an era of peace and I hope my grandchildren will continue to be raised in an era of peace because of the service the people in this room have made to our country. From the bottom of my heart, I say thank you for giving me that life and giving that life to all my generation.”
Torjie Sweeten, the daughter of the late Jack Carlson of Brownwood, and the family of the late J.H. Childs of Cross Plains, were present for the dedications of plaques honoring their relatives and the military service they gave to their country.
Carlson joined the U.S, Army in March 1941 and served in the Kangaroo Squadron during the early stages of the United States’ entry into World War II,
Childs enlisted in the U.S. Army two weeks after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and was eventually promoted to first lieutenant in June 1944.
Both families read the inscriptions on plaques, which will be placed at the Central Texas Veterans Memorial. Those plaques provide more detailed information on the honorees, and appear in the photo gallery below.
J.D Johnson, with Citizens National Bank and the Early Chamber of Commerce, presented military celebration coins to Sean Lewis, Paul Wade and the oldest veteran present at the event, 86-year-old Vernon Abrahams.
