Sunday, June 3, 2001
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Sunday, June 3, 2001 |
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Hundreds honor veterans at Memorial Day service
By CAROLYN CARY
Memorial Day festivities were held for the third straight year in Peachtree City under the direction of Randy Gaddo, the city's director of leisure services, along with the Kiwanis Club of Peachtree City and the Veteran of Foreign Wars, Post 9949, Peachtree City. Master of ceremonies for the event was the Rev. Father David Epps, who is a police chaplain and a Marine veteran. He quoted from the inaugural speech of President John F. Kennedy: "Pay any price, bear any burden. The origins of what used to be called Decoration Day are said to go all the way back to the Civil War, when organized women's groups in the South decorated graves. It was officially observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery." Participating in various parts of the program was the Peachtree City musical group "Music Alive," directed by Linda Hooper; Cub Scout Pack 201, which led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag; the Naval Service Pipes and Drum Ceremonial Detail from the Naval Air Station in Atlanta; the 4th Force Service Support Group based at the Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Training Center in Marietta, who performed the flag raising; the color detail from the Marine Corps JROTC unit at East Coweta High School; and the Marine Aircraft Group 42 at the Naval Air Station in Atlanta, who performed the 21-gun salute. The guest of honor and main speaker was Tommy Clack, field office manager for the Veterans Administration in Conyers. Clack paid a heavy personal price to preserve the freedom that Americans often take for granted. Clack was severely wounded May 29, 1969, as a forward observer at the front lines in Cambodia calling in air and artillery strikes on enemy positions. He lost both legs above the knee, all of his right arm and had internal injuries and loss of hearing. He spent the next several years in hospitals getting endless operations. "He paid a heavy toll for us," Epps said, "but he overcame the grief of his ordeal and turned his energies to becoming an advocate for veterans." Clack began by honoring the wives and children who are left behind to serve at the home front during times of conflict. "I am an eighth-generation military man in my family," Clack said. "Our first generation in this land came from England and was known as 'red coats'. By the second generation, however, we got on the right side and have since served in the United States military. "My son, Adam, 15, has recently decided to become the ninth generation to serve, and I look forward to that day. "When my Dad, who was wounded in World War II, took me to the Atlanta airport prior to my leaving for Viet Nam, I was spit upon. When I returned in this wheelchair, I was still spit upon. "The United States military is currently serving, in harm's way, in 137 places around the world. We must support these men and women, whether we agree with the particular conflict they are serving in or not. "Servicemen not only serve to protect their country but also to protect the buddies beside them. I am just grateful that my name does not appear on the Viet Nam Memorial wall, in Section 24 West, Line 13, where the names of many of my buddies are recorded." At the conclusion of the services, Master Gunnery Sergeant Goalen, United States Marine Corps Reserve, Naval Air Station, Atlanta, sounded Eight Bells, the traditional signaling of the completion of the watch aboard Naval ships.
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