A Memorial Day service was held today at 11 a.m. at the Central Texas Veterans Memorial Park, honoring those men and women from Central Texas who have given their lives in military service to our country. Two men from Central Texas were honored today:
Lt. General James “Terry” Scott is a native of Coleman, a graduate of Texas A & M University, and spent 32 years in the U.S. Army, including commands of tactical units at all levels from Platoon through Division. Scott participated in five combat tours, including three in Vietnam. From 1993 through 1996 he was Commanding General of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He received five awards for valor, including two Silver Stars and two Purple Hearts. In 2008 Lt. General Scott was inducted into the Texas A & M University Corps Hall of Honor.
Major Billy T. Branch enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1953. He joined the 1st Force Recon Unit as a Scout Swimmer and a Free-Fall Parachutist. He was also the Honor Man at the U.S. Army Airborne School in 1961 and the Honor Man at the U.S. Army Ranger School in 1962. Branch was a pioneer in complex covert insertion and extraction techniques. He served in Vietnam and was awarded a Bronze Star for selfless heroic actions. He also received an extraordinary direct “Battlefield” Commission for exceptionally outstanding leadership. Branch retired from the military in 1978 after twenty-five years of service, and now lives in Comanche County.
Opening remarks at the ceremony were provided by Navy Commander Chaplain Jim Looby: “What we do here today is right, and it is proper. We come to remember and to honor the heritage that has been given to us by those of service. The heroes, we call them, because they stood for that which was right. This is our heritage. We call it freedom, we call it independence, we call it liberty. Our independence is joyfully celebrated on the Fourth of July. On Veterans Day in November we honor all who heard the call to service, and they followed, and filled the ranks of the enlisted and the commissioned in the service. But on Memorial Day, we pay tribute to the sacrifices made by those who perished in service to our country.”
Three local businesses were given the Patriotic Citizen Award, for always flying the American flag. The three businesses were Citizens National Bank, Bruner Auto Group, and Bostick’s Auto and Truck Sales.
