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Community focuses on Veterans
By Connie Beard
Published November 10, 2009
The ground-breaking ceremony for the Red River Valley Veterans Memorial on Wednesday is the highlight of many Veterans Day observances in Lamar County.
This special event begins at 2 p.m. at Love Civic Center. Representatives from all six counties that encompass the valley — Lamar, Red River, Delta and Fannin in Northeast Texas and Choctaw and McCurtain counties in Southeast Oklahoma — will be on hand to turn the first shovels full of dirt for the memorial.
“Because of November weather, we didn’t plan a really long ceremony. We will recognize local veterans, raise the flag and the North Lamar band will play,” said Doug Weiberg, committee member of the Red River Valley Veterans Memorial.
Commanders of the Paris VFW Post 3990, American Legion Post 30 and Daughters of the American Revolution will raise the flags.
Plans for the memorial were jump-started in January when the Paris City Council agreed to the committee’s vision of a diamond-shaped granite memorial to be constructed on the grounds near the Paris Eiffel Tower.
Since then, donations from the community have exceeded a quarter million. Those donations include cash in the bank, pledges over the next four years, in-kind donations and the $5,050 raised during a Sunday night concert at Love Civic Center. The event was produced by Immanuel Baptist Church in Paris as a fund raiser for the memorial and gathered a combination of $2,150 in cash and $2,900 for pavers and benches.
“This is the most accepted civic project I’ve ever worked on, by far,” Weiberg said. “This ceremony will get everybody to understand this is going to happen.”
The Veterans of Foreign War Post 3990 will have members scattered all over, with speakers at Chisum High School, Travis Junior High, Justiss Elementary and Trinity Christian Academy. They will also assist the Cub Scouts in a flag posting ceremony at 10 a.m. at Deport Elementary.
“This is the first year we’ve had so much going on. People now know we are alive and well in Paris, Texas,” said David Nichols, commander of VFW Post 3990.
He is representing his post during the RRV Veterans Memorial ceremony. The post will also hold a Buddy Poppy drive with a display at the ground breaking with poppies made by disabled American Veterans. Nichols said they will also hold the drawing for their year-long raffle after the ceremony. The raffle prize is a Colt 45 and proceeds go toward unmet needs of military personnel, the military assistance program and to purchase phone cards for overseas personnel.
Paris Junior College plans a special observance at 11 a.m. in the DeShong Chapel on the campus. Following comments and music selections, names of PJC students who lost their lives during wartime to preserve our freedom will be read. The ceremony concludes with the laying of a wreath at the War Memorial on campus. The public is welcome.
Both Paris and North Lamar school districts plan extensive ceremonies in observance of Veterans Day.
Paris ISD
Community members are invited to all ceremonies and are encouraged to help students celebrate Veterans Day. Scheduled activities include:
T. G. Givens Elementary: A Veteran’s Day Program: “Honoring All Who Served,” 9 a.m. in the gymnasium. The Boy Scouts of America, NETSEO, will present the colors and demonstrate the folds of the flag. Paris High School choir student Alexandria Hutchison and band students will perform the National Anthem and Taps. Veterans Reagan Skaggs, Anthony Lopez, Kelly Parker, and George Jones will speak about Veteran’s Day, respecting the flag, and how to salute the flag properly. A special visit with Mike Ford, father of Hannah Ford via Skype is planned. Mike Ford is currently on active duty in Iraq.
Aikin Elementary: “Military Heroes – Faces of Freedom” slideshow during all lunch periods. Slideshow created with the help of Aikin students and faculty featuring veterans known by the Aikin student body.
Justiss Elementary: “A Veteran’s Day Assembly,” 9 a.m., in the cafeteria. A video will be shown and Sgt. Jason Coward will speak about and demonstrate flag etiquette. A fourth grade class will recite the preamble using hand motions.
The Justiss Elementary Veteran’s Day Parade, set for 1 p.m., honors veterans who are family members and friends of Justiss students and faculty.
Crockett Middle School
Builders Club sponsors veterans as guest speakers for seventh grade social studies classes all day in the library. Speakers are: 8:08 a.m. Dave Patty; 9:06 a.m. Johnny Williams; 10:04 a.m. Phil Payne; 11:02 a.m. Steve Phillips; 12:36 p.m. Wally Kraft; 1:45 p.m. Quinton Hawkins; and 2:42 p.m. Norm Davis.
Travis Junior High
9:45 a.m. Veterans’ Day Assembly. Travis Junior High Band and Choir will perform. Veterans from the community will present the colors and speak. Two of the guest speakers are Lee Hedrick, Specialist, U.S. Army and Jonathan Fore, Specialist, U.S. Army. Family and community members are invited.
Students and Staff are currently assembling a photo story project to be displayed. The project will display photographs of veterans and soldiers with a small description about them and their service to our country.
Paris High School
Students are participating in a Veterans Day Essay Contest. The essay theme is “Patriotism: What It Means to Me.”
Awards will be given for first place - $100, second place - $75, and third place - $50.
At Paris Alternative School for Success, a video all about veterans will be shown following class discussions in history class.
North Lamar ISD
North Lamar Independent School District will honor area veterans Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the high school and Thursday, Nov. 19, at Aaron Parker Elementary School.
North Lamar Beta Club will hold a reception at 8:15 a.m. in the high school library followed by the program at 9:20 a.m. in the high school gym.
The ceremony honors all those who have served, and is dedicated to the memory of U.S. Marine Sgt. Jay M. Hoskins, who was a 2003 graduate of North Lamar High School.
Jim Walls, retired from the U.S. Navy is to keynote the ceremony. The North Lamar High School band and choir will perform patriotic selections and a poem will be read by Stephen Smallwood, North Lamar teacher. Emcee Dennis Hodgkiss, also a North Lamar teacher, and Beta members will pin veterans as they are recognized in their specific line of service. The community and all area veterans are welcome.
The Nov. 19 celebration at Aaron Parker is part of a Reading is Fundamental (RIF) Day. The event is scheduled at 9:30 a.m. in the Parker gymnasium.
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