By Debbie Adams
On November 13, the Town of Vinton held a ceremony dedicating the first Field of Honor on the
front lawn of the Vinton War Memorial honoring veterans and active military personnel.
Veterans and their family members attended the ceremony.
The program opened with remarks from Mandy Adkins, Vinton’s Director of Cultural
Placemaking and Events, followed by the entrance of the Color Guard and Presentation of
Colors, a welcome and opening prayer from Vinton Mayor Brad Grose, the Pledge of
Allegiance, and the National Anthem.
Vinton Police Chief Fabricio Drumond delivered a stirring “Veterans Tribute Address.”
Field of Honor event. He is pictured with Lt. Scott Hurt (left) and Deputy Police Chief Tim
Lawless.
“For those of you in attendance, from our community members to our residents, our veterans,
civic groups, and families, we proudly present this Field of Honor as a show of gratitude, that
hopefully captures our deep-rooted and patriotic love we have for the great nation we are blessed
to live in and to the people who stand up to defend it.
“To our veterans and service members, while a ‘thank you’ can seem mechanical at times, we’ll
continue to say it; but with us, in our town, with today’s presentation of the Field of Honor, we
commence on our path to put our ‘thank you’ into action.
“Thank you for your service to our nation. It is a commitment to something greater than
ourselves, a pledge to protect our freedoms, and a determination to serve our nation and its
people. Thank you for putting your lives on hold so others could live theirs. Each of you veterans
are global ambassadors of what it means to have hope and change. Our nation can live without
fear every day because of our American servicemen and women from current to past.
“To our beloved families, sacrifice comes at a cost to you all – a sacrifice that can sometimes go
unnoticed. While our soldiers, sailors, airmen, guardians, and Marines serve, you endure
sleepless nights, endless worry, and the crushing loneliness of their absence, and, of course, the
uncertainty of their return. American military families from coast to coast and abroad show
incredible strength and resilience. Thank you for giving us the very best our country has to offer.
“The principles of freedom, justice, and equal opportunity have been the guiding lights of our
nation since its founding. These ideals are the bedrock of our great nation, and they inspire us to
strive for a better future for all. Our nation, since inception, is a tapestry woven from the diverse
threads of different cultures, backgrounds, and beliefs, creating a rich and prosperous society that many dream to come to. This diversity is our strength, and it is a testament to the enduring spirit
of America.
“Our American way of life comes with a heavy price, and as President Ronald Reagan stated in a
radio address to the nation in 1983, ‘Veterans know better than anyone else the price of freedom,
for they’ve suffered the scars of war. Each time our nation is called upon, the best has come
forward to defend our nation.’
“From the past to modern day, those veterans were everyday Americans. They are our farmers,
our teachers, our service workers, our laborers, our truck drivers, and people from all walks of
life, united by their love for their land and their unwavering commitment to freedom.
“From our first veterans who stood united against oppression, armed not just with weapons, but
with the unwavering belief that all people are entitled to liberty and justice. Those pioneers
dreamed of a nation where every individual could live freely, pursue their passions, and
contribute to the common good.
“But as we all know, the freedoms we cherish do not come without cost. We owe a debt of
gratitude to our veterans – those who have served in the armed forces, who have put their lives
on the line to defend our American way of life. They are heroes in the truest sense, embodying
the values of courage, sacrifice, and commitment. Whether in times of war or peace, these brave
individuals have answered the call to serve, often at great personal sacrifice. Many have faced
unimaginable challenges and returned home changed forever.
“So, as you look at each flag today in the Field of Honor, carefully woven into each American
flag is the sacrifice of love of country from each and every veteran.
“From inception to today, the story of America is truly one of a kind – a narrative of simple
origins, fueled by unwavering faith and daring aspirations, founded on an idea, a set of beliefs,
set forth by our Creator. Our nation’s most treasured documents provide the blueprint for
freedom, prosperity, and the pursuit of dreams, guided by faith in our Almighty Creator. Behind
those documents is a group of Americans who have stood up to defend those very ideals.
“It’s the American service members who dons their uniform, not for glory, but for the single
principle of a love of service and the preservation of a free democracy. It is the service member
who preserves the sanctity of life in foreign lands, and it is the selfless sacrifice and the final
actions of many patriots that solidify that there is no greater calling than to serve others in a time
of need. Our American military is called to foreign lands not to conquer, but to liberate. An
attempt to give a troubled nation and its people an opportunity to live free of oppression, free to
express, and emboldened to dream, of a better life.
“Those that choose to attack our homeland and our American way of life will never prevail
because we, the American people, cannot be broken. Tragedies only fuel the American spirit and
illustrate the proof of American resilience and the determination for a better world. You, the
American veteran, are living proof of those American ideals. To our veterans: you step up, you
serve, you never let America down. Our duty as Americans is to never lose our sense of gratitude
to your sacrifice.”
Donna Collins, Director of Human Resources/Risk Management, read the list of veterans who
were honored by family and friends with placement of a flag on the Field of Honor. In this
inaugural year, about 40 flags were purchased with another 60 placed by the town. She closed by
reading the poem “Freedom Isn’t Free.”
Gary Duerk closed the Field of Honor ceremony with the playing of “Taps.” Guests were then
able to walk among the flags on the Field of Honor to locate the flag dedicated in honor of their
veteran.
The Field of Honor display was envisioned by the Town of Vinton’s Veterans Outreach
Committee and installed by a team from Vinton Public Works and Community Programs. The
town hopes to double the number of flags next year. Proceeds go to local VFW Post 4522. Flags were given to those who purchased them once the event concluded.
