Photo By Sgt. Garett Hernandez | Command Sgt. Maj. Jennifer Love, 589th Brigade Support Battalion, 41st Fires Brigade,...... read more read more
CENTERVILLE, Texas - The small town of Centerville, Texas, a town of about 900 people held its annual veterans’ appreciation day celebration April 27 here.
Centerville adopted the 41st Fires “Rail Gunners” Brigade through the Association of the United States Army adopt-a-unit program. Located in Leon County, Texas, the town is no stranger to giving back to the military.
Leon County has been generous when it comes to America’s armed forces, having donated turkeys for Thanksgiving and toys for Christmas to the soldiers of the Rail Gunner Brigade.
The celebration started off like many military ceremonies with the posting of America’s Colors, provided by the Palestine, Texas, chapter of Vietnam Veterans of America.
Col. William McRae, 41st Fires Brigade commander, was the first guest speaker to address the audience. Before McRae could start his speech, he was surprised by three Rail Gunners who marched up and presented him with a saxophone. McRae then began to play “America the Beautiful” for the crowd’s pleasure.
“I didn’t know the colonel could play the saxophone,” said Sgt. Jonathan Garcia, a transportation operator with 67th Forward Support Company, 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Fires.
Also addressing the crowd of approximately 200 people was Congressman Kevin Brandy, who represents Texas’ 8th Congressional District. Brandy talked about the expanded health clinic for the local veterans and the plans of expanding the health care system even more in his district.
Once the keynote speaker had finished, the soldiers and veterans were treated to a barbecue lunch donated by businesses throughout Leon County. There were also door prizes given away to a few lucky individuals.
Along with the festivities, several organizations were on hand to provide information to veterans about the benefits they earned through their military service.
“Everybody needs to remember their veterans … we really need to pay our respect to our veterans,” said former Marine and Vietnam Veteran Steve Severn.
| Date Taken: | 04.27.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 05.06.2013 18:08 |
| Story ID: | 106446 |
| Location: | CENTERVILLE, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 112 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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