Veterans honored at Woodland Cemetery

Published 10:08 am Wednesday, November 12, 2014

THE TRIBUNE/JESSICA ST JAMES Tom Stambaugh, post commander of the VFW 8850, stands at attention during the playing of taps.

THE TRIBUNE/JESSICA ST JAMES
Tom Stambaugh, post commander of the VFW 8850, stands at attention during the playing of taps.

Hundreds of American flags waving in the breeze lined the ground of Soldier’s Plot in Woodland Cemetery Tuesday morning as VFW Post 8850 had its Veterans Day ceremony.

About 100 people gathered to honor the veterans on a warm and sunny morning.

“We always have the ceremony on the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month,” Louie Sheridan, former commander of post 8850, said.

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One member of Post 8850 held the American flag on one side of the podium while another member held the flag of the post on the other side. All of the members of the post were dressed in black pants, white shirts, black ties and maroon jackets to go along with their caps.

The other members of the post stood in a line behind the podium with their rifles.

“Veterans like coming here to honor their brothers and sisters who served,” Sheridan said. “It gives their families a chance to come honor them as well.”

The Pledge of Allegiance led off the ceremony, followed by the singing of the national anthem by Ironton Middle School student Demi Sands. The ceremony continued with a prayer led by minister Chad Pemberton, a speech by guest speaker and member of Post 8850 Rodney McFarland, Sands singing “God Bless America,” a closing prayer and a moment to remember the fallen veterans.

“Memorial Day is always set aside for those who passed,” Sheridan said. “But we like to do something on Veterans Day for those who served and came back. We need to also recognize the ones who lived full lives after their service.”

In attendance were members of the Military Order of Purple Hearts, Legion Riders, members of the American Legion and AmVets of World War II, the Vietnam War and the Korean War.

“We might have all been in different wars, but we still served our country together,” Sheridan said. “When you leave your family to join the military, it becomes your family.”

Veterans at the ceremony said they appreciate the event, which has been going on for many years.

“We love it,” John Winters, United States Army veteran, said. “It makes us proud to be of service.”

Winters attends the ceremony every year.