Memorial Day Observance 2008
On Wednesday, May 21, 2008, PDBR Gordon King joined the Machinists and FEP employed at Boeing in a special remembrance to our nation's fallen heroes. Joining the crowd this day were six veterans of World War II. As dozens watched, Machinist member and Vietnam Veteran Don Robinson joined USMC veteran Lana Dinehart in placing a memorial wreath in front of the Boeing Veteran's Memorial. Business Representative Earl Schuessler came to thank the many veterans in attendance personally for the sacrifices made and to honor those who lost their lives in service to our nation.
Joining Gordon to pay tribute from the podium was Dave Thomas, Boeing STL Veterans Task Force member who acted as Master of ceremony for the event, John Campbell an veteran of the USAF and Director of F/A-18 Operations, Dave Cary who gave the invocation, the Roosevelt High MCJROTC for presentation of the colors, Greg & Jamie Hitt performed the National Anthem and God Bless America, Mike Heggem, Boeing employee and USAF Iraqi War Veteran, and Colonel Kenneth Young the US Army FCS Chief Information Officer.
Below is the text of PDBR Gordon King's speech and photos of the event. Video will be made available soon.
Text:
Good afternoon Brother and Sisters, Ladies and Gentleman,
I would like to thank the Boeing Company for inviting me here today to speak at this important event.
Since 1882, when our nation observed it’s first official Memorial Day, we have seen the greatest and most horrific of wars. Wars of such magnitude and devastation that more have died within this past century then have died in all the wars combined in recorded history.
And as their ranks grown thin and as memories of those that have given and those that are gone become ever more distant, it becomes increasingly more important for us to remind those who know little of sacrifice how important their gift was. It has many times been said that:
We have a job-and it is to remind those who do not remember.
That it is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the Freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us Freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the Freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier, who serves beneath the Flag, who salutes the Flag, whose coffin is draped by the Flag, who allows the protestor to burn the Flag.
It is the soldier, not the politician, who has given his blood, his body, his life, who has given us these Freedoms.
And it is the soldier who has given us the
privilege to sleep safely in our homes and to hold our children warm
within our arms.
It is the greatest crime that it is only war that
brings peace and it is the greatest sacrifice that men and women were
struck in the prime of their lives so that we might enjoy such freedoms.
It is for we the living to prove that we are worthy
of their sacrifice through dedication toward this hard fought peace that
was purchased by these honored dead.
It was Macarthur who said, “Old soldiers never
die.” But it is for us to
insure that they not simply fade away.
In closing, on behalf of myself and my Staff at
District 837, I want to truly thank all our past and present service men
and women for everything they have done for each of us and our country.
God Bless and enjoy the rest of the ceremony.
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