Remembering those who paid freedom's price
May 27—On an occasion fittingly somber and respectful, weather proved agreeable as about 50 area veterans, military men and women and residents gathered Monday morning at Cleburne Memorial Park Cemetery to honor America's fallen men and women.
Those numbers spanning the centuries of American conflicts stagger the senses, Cleburne Sons of American Legion Squadron Commander Jerry Landers said.
"Of all the wars and conflicts, 81,500 remain missing and unaccounted for," Landers said. "The overall numbers total 890,237 war dead that died for you and I."
From the April 19, 1775, commencement of the American War for Independence through current conflicts, Landers name checked war and listed each conflict's total losses while Cleburne's American Legion Post 50 Commander Chuck Roberts sounded a bell to mark each conflict.
Audience members applauded as veterans from World War II through today stood to be honored.
"On this day we pray for those who courageously laid down their lives for the cause of freedom," Roberts said during the morning's opening prayer.
Cleburne's American Legion Auxiliary President Candy Maples and ALA member Marty Peters explained the significance of red poppies in remembering and honoring veterans while former SAL Commander Michael Maples detailed the significance of the items on the POW/MIA table placed near the podium.
Michael and Candy Maples joined Roberts and Steward in placing a wreath and American flags at the grave of a veteran buried in the cemetery.
Monday's ceremony concluded to the sounds of "Taps" played by Cleburne High School student Jay Jones.
Steward noted the history of Cleburne's Post 50. The American Legion began in 1919, the Cleburne post established in September of that same year.
"That's 105 years of commitment to the veterans of our community," Steward said. "No matter what we do for our veterans it's never enough."
Bryan Coleman, a U.S. Army veteran who served from 1973-81 spoke of freedom as a fragile and precious gift but also one that comes with a price.
"Every time we hear, watch or read the news we are reminded that freedom has never been free and that liberty is a rare commodity in any place where it is not guarded diligently," Coleman said. "Freedom and liberty are purchased with blood, as they have been for millennia; and patriotism, heroism and military service ends the lives of many who choose to defend their home nation."
We must never forget, Coleman said, that the United States and freedoms for which it stands have throughout our history been guarded by military personnel who fought and in many cases died in those pursuits.
"Their deaths remind us that freedom is not bought cheaply," Coleman said. "It has a great cost and imposes a heavy burden."
Coleman reminded, too, of the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
"The difference is whether the veteran survived the war," Coleman said. "If the veteran survived, they celebrated Veterans Day. If they did not survive, they are honored on Memorial Day."
Sadly, the fight to defend liberty is likely far from over, Coleman concluded.
"If history repeats itself we will honor the lives of [future] veterans who will give their lives so that we can be free," Coleman said. "On this Memorial Day, let us remember the service of our veterans and let us renew our national promise to fulfill our sacred obligations of our veterans and their families who have sacrificed so much that we may live free."
Cleburne Chamber President Tracy Thomas spoke of Cleburne's patriotism and Purple Heart City designation. Thomas thanked members of the VFW, Cleburne Rotary Club, Walmart Distribution Center and chamber for placing flags throughout the Cleburne City Cemetery and Green Acres Memorial Park.
Thomas recited "It Is The Soldier," a poem by Charles M. Province the gist of which being that our soldiers are primarily responsible for our freedoms be they religious, press, speech, right to vote, right to a fair trial, freedom to protest or others.
