Memorial Day Ceremony 2015

Memorial Day in Mt. Juliet came with thundershowers and yet the mood was not dampened at all, due  to the collective warmth of our individual  memories of those fallen heroes in the wars America has  fought to maintain freedom in our great country. Bond Chapel held the ceremony inside where the crowd was patriotically synthesized by the singing of Jordans Shore and Chief James Hambrick. The Tyler Cates American Legion Post 281 in Mt. Juliet provided the honor guard to present the colors and fire the  21 gun salute. Our honor guard has gained great renown over the state of Tennessee and is in high  demand for funerals and ceremonies involving the military.

Retired US Army Major Pat Unger gave the address. Pat is also Post Commander for Mt. Juliet American  Legion Post 281. He gave the memorial address honoring those who have fallen in all our wars. Pat  reminded us they are not statistics, but rather real people with real families who miss them this  Memorial Day, where their chair at the table is still empty. He reminded us that Memorial Day is a day of remembrance “care for him who shall have borne the battle and his widow and his orphan ”. Quoted  from President Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address, given March 4, 1865, at Washington, D.C.  We were further reminded that it is a day to give thanks as we owe that to those who served and died to keep us free.

We are again indebted to Andy Bond and his staff at Bond Memorial Chapel for hosting this event now for 18 years. The crowd was treated to refreshments after the presentation ended. Seated at the podium was Andy Bond, Jim Austin, Pastor of Victory Baptist Church, Chief James Hambrick, Mt. Juliet Police Chief and Pat Unger, Commander of American Legion Post 281 of Mt. Juliet. In this photo the head of the man closest to the photographer is of 96 year old Max Anderson, a US Navy World War II veteran.

Richard Huffman
Public Information Officer
Tyler Cates American Legion Post 281

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