Veterans’ Day a time to give thanks for freedom and sacrifice

Veterans’ Day ceremonies were held Wednesday at the VFW in Newton. The services began with a posting of the colors by the VFW Post 1655, American Legion Post 111 and the Jasper County Vietnam Veterans. Following the invocation, and a singing of the National Anthem by the audience, John Billingsley gave the audience a history of American warfare, interspersed with personal memories.

The original American patriots were formed before the Revolutionary War, and were called rebels by the British. At that time, Boston, Mass., was a hotbed of revolutionary activity, and a number of committees were formed, including a militia (also known as freedom fighters). In 1775, Dr. Joseph Warren devised a system of warning signals, composed of lanterns in the towns’ church towers to inform the public that the British were planning an attack.

The militia in Lexington, Mass. were commanded by Capt. John Parker with 77 men. As the British marched on Lexington, Parker uttered the famous words, “If they mean to have a war, let it begin here.” In the first volley, the “shot heard around the world,” eight militia were killed, and the British went on to Concord and burned the courthouse. They then marched to a bridge outside of Concord in search of gunpowder and other munitions, where the militia stood their ground. The British retreated back to Boston. The British registered 273 killed, while the American militia suffered 87 casualties. Independence was declared in July, 1776.

Following the laying of wreaths by the Gold Star Mothers and many other auxiliary organizations, and taps played by Joel Jones, the ceremonies concluded by a 21-gun salute by members of the Newton VFW.

Levi Pence summed up the day’s ceremonies clearly.

“We owe our veterans a great deal, and today especially, we owe them our freedom,” Pence said.

John Jennings can be contacted at 792-3121 ext. 425 or via e-mail at jjennings@newtondailynews.com.