Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Michael Behlin | Buddy poppies and U.S. Flags were placed on crosses in honor of Kershaw County...... read more read more
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CAMDEN, SC - Brig. Gen. Jose Rivera, U.S. Army Central G3/5/7, addressed the Camden community about Veterans Day at the American Legion Post 17, in Camden, SC, Nov. 09, 2023.
During the ceremony, local leaders and Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) cadets from area schools, learned about local history and the meaning behind Veterans Day.
Rivera spoke on the importance of Camden's role during the American Revolution and its long legacy of supporting Veterans. The Battle of Camden was a major engagement in the war and occurred just north of the ceremonys location.
“As we gather here in the historic town of Camden, I am surrounded by reminders of the brave men and women who, in the fields and amongst the pines just north of us, clashed on a hot August day in 1780,” said Rivera. “Those 4,000 some Americans who shared a vision for the
future of our nation were amongst our very first people to earn the title, veteran.”
Standing in formation in the swelting heat, cadets from Camden Military Academy, Camden High School, and North Central High School made up the majority of the participants and attendees. Rivera recognized the importance of teaching American youth about the legacy of
Camden.
“The veterans of the Battle of Camden may not have defeated British General Cornwallis that day, but they were the spark in what became the southern campaign of the American Revolution,” said Rivera. “A campaign that ultimately led to the patriot victory in our first war and was facilitated by a uniquely American demographic; the citizen Soldier.”
During the ceremony, the cadets placed poppy flowers and American flags over white crosses. These crosses represented fallen service members who were native to Camden. The distinguished guests of the community read aloud the name of every fallen hero.
The poppy flower is the international symbol of remembrance and was adopted by the National American Legion in 1920.
“The ladies of our Legion Auxiliaries have honored these heroes with crocheting poppies that our cadets will adorn with the white crosses bearing the names listed in your programs,” said Ken Webb, Legionare, Post 17.
ARCENT participates in local Veterans Day observances annually to recognize veterans and build relationships while showing support throughout the community.
The ARCENT headquarters consists of approximately 1,000 Soldiers and Civilians primarily at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina. A small number of headquarters personnel are located at Kuwait and Jordan to provide support and oversight. These personnel include active Soldiers
who rotate between Shaw AFB and forward posts, mobilized National Guard and Reserve Soldiers and civilians.
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| Date Taken: | 11.09.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 11.20.2023 11:06 |
| Story ID: | 457989 |
| Location: | CAMDEN, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 14 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, ARCENT Celebrates Kershaw County Veterans During Ceremony, by SGT Amber Cobena, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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