Local veterans were joined by friends and family last Monday to remember those fallen in the service of their country. Law enforcement, rescue, and firefighters were also in attendance during the special Memorial Day ceremony at the County Complex.
Susan Hinton entertained the gathering with some patriotic music prior to the program, before American Legion Adjutant Ronnie Redmon welcomed the crowd to open things up.
Melissa Crouch of Gentiva Hospice recognized local veterans in attendance, as well as family members who had lost someone during their service.
Larry Green then led a prayer, followed by U.S. Army veteran Jesus Hernandez who led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mrs. Hinton then led the crowd in the singing of the Star-Spangled Banner before the keynote speaker, Steven A. Cantrell, addressed the crowd.
Cantrell was a legal resident of Smithville from the day he was born until he retired from the military. He refers to his life as a “Catch 22.” He was a military dependent for 22 years, a United States Air Force Officer for 22 plus years (retired in 1999), and a member of the U.S. government Senior Executive Service for 22 plus years (retired in 2021). He returned to Smithville in 2023, with his wife Gloria Cantrell. His son, John Colvert Cantrell, daughter-in-law Rae (Oulette) Cantrell and granddaughters, Kathryn Cantrell, live in Springfield, Virginia.
Mr. Cantrell was a career intelligence officer, who enjoyed a very wide and eclectic range of jobs (both intelligence and non-intelligence) and educational experiences (two unique Master’s Degrees). Throughout his career he has and still does, serve as a mentor.
In his address to the crowd, Cantrell spoke about those lost during their service, “Sometimes we shed a tear, or more, as we think back to military comrades, friends and family members. However, for many of us the tears are accompanied by a smile. You smile because of the impact these individuals have on your life.
“Our memories shape who we are, whether as a military dependent, i.e., child or spouse, as a military member or as a government civilian who has military personnel working for them. I was all three.”
Cantrell talked about growing up in a military family and seeing his father deploy to Vietnam, and later, about his own military career and working with General Schwarzkopf during the Desert Shield/Storm war in Iraq.
“These reflect just a sample of positive memories of my military career that make me smile; unfortunately, there are other memories that reflect losses. Those who have or are serving in the military and their families have lots of these stories to tell. But unfortunately, they don’t always resonate with friends and family members that have not experienced military life first-hand. They don’t understand the stress not only on the veteran but the family members as well, especially with loss of life. If a family is living on a military base or post and the military member is killed in action or dies from other causes, they have only a few months before they are required to move out.
“That is why organizations such as the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and AMVETS are so important. They give our veterans and their families a place to share and remember – with tears and smiles. And the complement the places for healing, especially our Veteran Administration Hospitals, which are currently under attack, and organizations such as Wounded Warriors.”
Cantrell concluded by saying, “When I see the American flag, especially on Memorial Day, Flag Day, and the Fourth of July, it stirs memories of serving under that flag, what it means to be an American, and especially friends who honored what that flag stands for with the ultimate sacrifice. That’s why at 3 pm you will find me saluting an American flag in their honor and memory. What will you be doing?”
After the program, the crowd moved to the DeKalb County Courthouse where Don Rigsby gave a prayer and a wreath was laid at the Veterans Memorial monument.
