Veterans from all branches of service and all conflicts were honored in many ways over Veterans Day, held Saturday, Nov. 11.
Dublin ISD students and faculty honored veterans Friday, Nov. 10 at a special assembly in the secondary campus’ gymnasium. Veterans who participated were escorted in by Dublin cheerleaders and Dandi-Lions to a fanfare provided by the Sound of Dublin band.
During the assembly, members of the student council led participants in the Pledge of Allegiance, State Pledge and the Star Spangled Banner.
Participating veterans were also asked to rise in recognition as a bit of information was shared about each of them. Veterans included: Crystal Moreno (U.S. Army, joined in 2010, Army PFC, was in the military for Operation Iraqi Freedom, War in Afghanistan and Operation Enduring Freedom), Sonny Thackerson (National Guard, PFC 3), George Mitchell (Army National Guard, PFC 3), Forrest Calhoun (Army, Private First Class), J.A. Carter (Army, PFC), Thomas Taylor (Army, Corporal, served in Desert Shield and Desert Storm), Mac McKinnon (Air Force, AIC, served in Vietnam War and Korean War), Jose Galvan (U.S. Marine Corps, Staff Sergeant, served three combat deployments including Operation Iraqi Freedom), Jim Mulloy (Air Force, Lt. Col., served in Vietnam War), Bill Rodriguez (Army, E5 sergeant, served in the Vietnam War from 66-68), Robert Bowan (Army, Spec 4), Thomas Carroll DDS (U.S. Navy, E-3, served in two tours during Vietnam War), James Myers (Army, LTC, served in Germany from 1957-58 and Vietnam from 61-67), Jim Pack (U.S. Navy, LTLR and served during the Vietnam War) and Jacob Carpenter (U.S. Navy, CPO, E-7 retired, served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Currently a Dublin Police Officer).
The program’s guest speaker was Forrest Calhoun who joined the U.S. Army, went through Basic Training with the intention of becoming a helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War, only to be discharged for being color blind.
Calhoun asked students during the presentation to get out their cell phones to look up some influential people and facts from a variety of conflicts.
He spoke about Curtis Lemay, an American general who improved bombing accuracy during World War II against Japanese cities.
“When you enlist you make an oath to defend the U.S. Constitution against enemies foreign and domestic,” Calhoun said.
He encouraged students to vote as soon as they are able and to stay informed.
“You need to honor the sacrifices that have been made and you do that by staying informed and making it a priority to vote,” he said.
On Saturday, Nov. 11, the Stephenville Area Elks Lodge treated veterans to a free lunch with hamburgers and hotdogs outside the Dublin Public Library near the Veterans Memorial.
Donations for the event included Dublin Historical Society, Grafton Market, Brookshire Brothers, Ben Pate, Karen Wright, Carmen Andersen, Deborah Holt and Ursula Staud.
As far as attendance at the event, the Elks reported that U.S. Navy veterans took the win with the most attendees.
“I loved waiting on these Veterans so much and they so deserve it,” Elks Lodge member Sarah Brennand said.
The lodge plans to make the event an annual occurrence.