Caddo- My Home Town: Veterans' Memorial Dedication

Attractions

The Caddo Cafe
Friday Night All-You-Can-Eat Catfish! Call 367-9800 for hours and details.
Rex II
Restored movie theater. Call 580-367-2000 for show times.
Indian Territory Museum and Library
A free look into Caddo's rich heritage. Open Tues.-Sat. from 10am to 3pm
Craighead's
This turn-of-the-century general store is a must see! Open: M-Th 'til 5:30 and F-Sat. 9:00-7:00.

Organizations

Caddo Alumni Association
The alumni association arranges a Caddo High School reunion every four years. Next one is 2012.
Caddo Educational Foundation
This group provides scholarships for community youth.
Caddo Civic and Cemetery Club
This group maintains and improves the cemetery and provides community service as needed.
Town Restoration Association of Caddo
The mission of TRAC is to provide visionary leadership, focus on historical preservation, and promote economic growth to enrich the quality of life in our community.
Caddo Community Association
The CCA holds the annual Heritage Day Celebration and participates in other community projects.

Yesterday the Caddo Civic and Cemetery Club dedicated their new Veterans’ Memorial during a solemn service attended by family and friends of the soldiers. Dick Carson, retired Lt. Col. USAF, was the MC and former WWII P.O.W. Dude Culbreath was the featured speaker. Bryan County V.F.W. Post 3916 made the presentation of the colors. Caddo High School students Lori Young and Slader Pair sang for the crowd.

Remembered in stone are those fallen in action:

World War I

Corbett Benefield

Elmer C. Keith

Phil C. Harris

World War II

Elton Billy Dean McGrew

Eugene Seago

Haskell Lassiter

R.L. Boydstun

J.E. Ray Culwell

Benjamin C. Freeny

James S. Hokett

Pleas John Scott

Kenneth McCreary

Korea

Ernest H. Haddock

Donnie J. Airington

Melvin L. Turner

Howard G. Airington

Vietnam

J.D. Singleton

Larry Neal Boatman

Jimmie Don Hyde

Turner Coleman Pat Johnson

For photos and names of the living WWII veterans honored in the parade go to my The View From Here blog.

The names of all known veterans buried in Gethsemane Cemetery were read during the service. I will post them to Stories Too Long later in the week.

This “collective dedication” was read by the those gathered:

We gather today, on this grassy field, to hallow it in memory of our fellow Americans

who have defended our liberty and the God-given rights of freedom, for people everywhere.

We honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. We honor the memory of those who returned from war to live out their days among us, but left behind on the battlefields their youth and health. We honor the lives of those who set aside the comforts of home, the joys of family, and the companionship of friends to answer the call of duty to their country. We lift a prayer of gratitude for their courage and service to the noble cause of freedom.

We pledge ourselves to walk worthy of the sacrifice made by those who have been laid to rest on these green fields and to give honor to those who live and stand among us today.

God Bless America!

Comments

Hey this is Slader Pair from the memorial day. This is really a great thing you are doing 4 the great town of caddo I just wanted to say thank you.
p.s. keep up the good work!!!

Sorry I posted it on a different page I tried to get to this one lol.

Posted by: slader pair | May 23, 2009 at 11:40 PM

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