Sarah Whitledge Taylor lifted a folded flag above the podium at the beginning of her speech at Henderson’s 77th annual Memorial Day service and said that it was the flag that was draped over the coffin of her son, Spc. David Taylor, who died March 29, 2012.
Her son died in an ammunition explosion during Operation Enduring Freedom in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
The flag is a remembrance of him, but also thousands of others who were killed in action and thousands more that are still missing in action in wars ranging from World War I to the War in Afghanistan and the War on Terror, she said.
Taylor, the immediate past national president of the American Gold Star Mothers, an organization that supports mothers who’ve lost a son or daughter in war, asked only that those gathered for the service in Central Park honor those who’ve served and those who’ve died in war one day each year.
“Never say happy Memorial Day again,” she also asked, because it’s not a happy day for those mothers who will never see their son or daughter who died in service again. She said that saying, “Have a meaningful Memorial Day,” is more appropriate.
She said mothers who’ve lost a child in war go to bed and have trouble sleeping and when they wake, they hope that what they dreamed was just a nightmare. But it is reality.
“Every day is Memorial Day for us,” she said, adding that many only have pictures, stories and memories, some of which are beginning to fade.
Taylor ended her speech with remarks especially for Vietnam War veterans, whom she said were not treated appropriately upon their return from war decades ago.
“I am ashamed for how people treated you,” she said.
She said those veterans, however, later stood up for proper treatment of returning soldiers and that is a testament to their resilience.
“You will not be forgotten,” she said.
The service this year marked a change, albeit a sad one. Lt. Col. Heather Toews (U.S. Air Force, retired) took over the role of emcee after Lt. Col Jim Smith, who had acted as the emcee for the past 14 years, passed away weeks ago. His death was marked by a moment of silence and an empty seat at the service.
An aide for U.S. Rep. James Comer presented letters of appreciation to Jim Hanley, the commander of American Legion Post 40 honor guard; Ken Christopher, the immediate past president of the Henderson Veterans Memorial Foundation; and Smith’s family. The American Legion post and the veterans memorial foundation work hand-in-hand to set up the more than 6,100 crosses in the park and organize the Memorial Day service each year.
Additionally, Henderson Mayor Brad Staton spoke and told the crowd that city officials and veterans memorial foundation officials have begun talks to build a veterans park, which would include permanent displays and would also be a place to erect the thousands of crosses each May.
Among Toews’ comments, she mentioned one Henderson family in particular. The Black family had five brothers who served in 20th century wars and now have five crosses erected in their honor. The brothers include the Rev. John Samuel Black, James “Rail” Black, Joseph “Bish” Black, Willie Black, Jr. and Tommy Black. Another brother, Charles Black, served in four branches of the military and is still alive, Toews said.
“The Black family lived for it, and they died for it,” she said.
The service also included the Missing Man ceremony, wreath placement in honor of each branch of the military, musical selections of each branch’s song, prayers and a rifle salute, among other events. It ended with the playing of “Taps.”
Sunday night storms and winds caused about 400 crosses from the Central Park display to be blown down. Officials notified different organizations to help re-set the crosses, including the Henderson County Detention Center which dispatched a group of inmates to help. Those crosses were re-set early in the morning, well before the Monday service began at 10 a.m.
