WELCH — Welch’s 104th Veterans Day Parade marched as deliberate Friday morning, regardless of the specter of heavy rain that resulted in a smaller attendance than traditional.
The longest constantly operating Veterans Day parade within the nation, the parade did draw many trustworthy, and honored veterans in a manner that’s particular to McDowell County and to residents.
Visitor speaker for the post-parade ceremonies was Steve Mooney, director of Operations for the state Division of Veterans Help.
Mooney is from Huntington and can be a veteran, enlisting in 1991 within the West Virginia Nationwide Guard and serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Mooney stated army service has helped maintain the nation and residents “protected and free,” and he additionally honored the households of service members who make sacrifices.
“On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the weapons of the world fell silent,” he stated of the tip of World Battle I. That day was initially referred to as Armistice Day till renamed Veterans Day in 1954 after World Battle II and the Korean Battle.
“Sadly, World Battle I’d not be the ‘warfare to finish all wars,’” he stated of an expression usually used in regards to the warfare, which led to 1918.
Mooney stated Veterans Day is put aside to honor those that laid their lives on the road “for our freedom.”
“These women and men had been abnormal folks till they heard the decision of responsibility and answered,” he stated. “They left their household, their properties and their lives, not for recognition or fame, and never for the dignity we bestow upon them at the moment. They fought for our nation and to keep up our lifestyle.”
Mooney additionally recalled a private expertise of shedding a good friend from this space on May18, 2002 when enemy bullets rained down on a U.S. convoy in Afghanistan.
“A soldier from this space died from a gunshot wound whereas serving in fight operations in Afghanistan. His title was Workers Sgt. Gene Arden Vance Jr.,” Mooney stated. “I used to be very honored to know Gene and served with him for a number of years previous to 9/11 (2001). Gene paid the final word sacrifice a soldier may ever give.”
Vance was a graduate of Oceana Excessive Faculty in Wyoming County and was killed in motion throughout Operation Enduring Freedom when his unit got here underneath intense fireplace whereas on patrol in japanese Afghanistan.
A member of the U.S. Special Forces Airborne Army West Virginia Nationwide Guard Unit despatched to search out Osama bin Laden, Vance, regardless of being critically wounded, saved the lives of two fellow Individuals and 18 Afghan troopers.
“He’ll at all times be remembered as a sort individual with a smile on his face and a optimistic perspective,” Mooney stated.
Mooney additionally stated everybody ought to keep in mind that veterans who return usually bear stress and challenges readjusting.
“Allow us to not neglect the interior wounds veterans cope with every day,” he stated, with 22 veterans committing suicide every single day. “Army service will not be for the faint of coronary heart.”
Most civilian jobs don’t embody danger of “life and limb,” he stated, including that in civilian jobs folks can give up when they need and stay anyplace they need, however that’s not the case within the army.
“Transitional challenges, the stress of army life, and emotions of isolation all consider to a suicide fee amongst veterans that’s 50 p.c larger than that of a non-military grownup,” he stated. “The stigma of searching for assist wants to finish.”
Mooney stated it takes braveness to ask for assist and “we have to be proactive and encourage veterans to hunt assist,” including that homelessness is one other downside amongst veterans.
“One of the simplest ways to forestall veteran homelessness is to rent them,” he stated.
Mooney stated when politicians need to reduce prices for army packages, “it’s as much as us to remind them of the price of being a veteran.”
“Veterans Day isn’t just a day for veterans,” he stated. “It’s a day for Individuals. It’s a day to recollect why they had been combating and a day for us to start our journey of defending our freedom and the liberty of future generations.”
Welch Mayor Harold McBride additionally spoke on the occasion.
“I can’t consider anyplace on the planet I’d fairly be on Veterans Day than Welch, West Virginia,” he stated. “It’s distinctive, It’s particular and nobody can take that away. We’re very fortunate to be right here, and at all times keep in mind that.”
Tom Hicks, state American Legion Commander, attended the occasion.
“It was an honor and a privilege to be invited right here at the moment to take part within the 104th Veterans Day Parade in Welch,” he stated.
Jan Williams, Commander of American Legion Publish 8, which sponsors the occasion, led the parade.
“That is my first 12 months,” she stated of her new place with Publish 8.
Not solely that, she can be the primary feminine commander of Publish 8.
Williams stated she raised her children within the county, is retired from McDowell County Colleges and, alongside along with her husband, David, is a veteran of the Air Power.
She stated they joined the American Legion on that group of veterans’ one hundredth anniversary (2019).
“We normally should work the parade,” she stated. “However it was nice (to be in it). It was an honor.”
David Williams stated he was born and raised in McDowell County and at all times involves the parade.
“The one ones I missed was once I was within the service,” he stated.
“We’re very happy with the county and town we stay in,” Jan Williams stated. “We’re proud to be veterans and to have served our nation.”
Residents who attended the parade stated they weren’t involved in regards to the climate, which ended up bringing only some showers.
Brittany Bolden, a Panther native who lives in Bluefield now, stated she has been to at the least 20 Welch parades, and she or he loves the historical past of it and the way it solidifies the group.
“It brings the group collectively,” she stated, and it’s one thing everybody seems to be ahead to, bringing folks collectively from the whole county.
Bolden’s step-daughter Adalyn, who’s 7 and a pupil at Mountain Valley Elementary, stated she has been to the parade earlier than.
“I’ve been a few instances,” she stated, and she or he at all times seems to be ahead to it.
Her favourite function of the parade? “Sweet.”
Paisley, her 5-year-old sister, stated she had been earlier than however was too younger to recollect, so it’s actually her first time.
However she wasted no time in saying what she was wanting ahead to essentially the most: “sweet.”
Morgan Griffin stated she not too long ago moved to Welch from North Carolina and it’s her first time to see the parade.
“I do know this parade has been happening for lots time, however I used to be shocked they’d it with the rain,” she stated.
When instructed it was the 104th parade, Griffin’s response was, “That’s superior.”
Griffin stated her daughter, who’s in third grade at Kimball Elementary, was within the parade and she or he loves seeing the entire children who take part.
“She will probably be strolling along with her cheerleading group,” she stated.
Shane Collins, who not too long ago moved again to the realm, stated all of his household is from McDowell County and “it’s been a very long time” since he had been to the parade, however went usually when he was rising up.
Collins stated his favourite factor was simply “seeing the group get collectively.”
Andrea Inexperienced, who’s from McDowell County and her household owns an insurance coverage enterprise and new laundry mat in Welch, stated she has been coming to the parade for a very long time.
“My dad is a veteran so we have now made it a convention to come back to the parade,” she stated.
Inexperienced stated her favourite factor in regards to the parade is “seeing folks I do know.”
Her father, Charles David Brown, an Army veteran who served in Vietnam, stated he was born in Iaeger and has been coming to the parade for a few years.
“I like coming and seeing previous pals,” he stated.
Brown stated he additionally appreciates the message.
“I’m grateful the hassle is made to honor those that served,” he stated, including that it was 20 years after Vietnam earlier than anybody would thank veterans for his or her service. “They are saying it now, however they didn’t then.”
One other member of the household, Joseph Inexperienced, 13, stated he has been coming to the parade “since I used to be a child.”
Inexperienced stated he additionally likes seeing folks and the Harmony College Band, which carried out the Nationwide Anthem and different patriotic songs.
He’s a musician who performs the euphonium and stated if he attends Harmony he needs to be within the college’s band.
Harmony College was named the parade’s Greatest Band; Mount View Excessive Faculty Soccer Workforce received Greatest Youth Group; Greatest Vintage Automobile went to Jimmy Osborne for a 1995 Chevy C-1500; the Welch Lions Membership received the Commander’s Greatest Civic Group; and the Commander’s Trophy for Greatest in Parade went to Jimmy’s {Hardware}.
— Contact Charles Boothe at cboothe@bdtonline.com
