The event began under the big tent with Hempstead County Judge Jerry Crane, himself a veteran, welcoming all attendees and making an observation. “It's an honor to stand here in the company of the heroes, the veterans, service members and civilian leaders who support our military. And we really need to be praying for our military right now. Overseas, they're already in combat. And we need to pray that they will be safe,” he said.
Crane said that at yesterday afternoon’s Veterans Day parade, the trailers in which veterans sat were pulled next to the road so they could watch the part of the parade that had gone behind them. “We didn't have that when we came back. We weren't looked at when we came back like that. And I'm proud to live in a community where you support your military. And there's a lot of people that can I can thank for putting us together.”
Crane then introduced the presentation of the colors, the American and Arkansas flags, by Scout Troop Five. Following the presentation came the pledge of allegiance and then a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem by Hollyan Ennis. Drake Anderson, youth pastor at Spring Hill’s Bethany Baptist Church gave the invocation.
Then veterans of the various military branches were told to stand to be applauded. They represented a large majority of those seated.
Donna Rosenbaum, Hempstead County’s Veterans Service Officer, a Gold Star mother herself, recognized the contributions of two van drivers for Disabled American Veterans of Arkansas who help transport veterans to doctor’s appointments in Little Rock, Lorie Lejeune, who has driven over 43,000 miles and was chosen 2021 Volunteer Driver of the Year, and Bob Willis, who began volunteering in 2018 and has driven 25,000 miles himself. Rosenbaum said DAV could use one more volunteer to help at least one Wednesday a week.
Rosenbaum then introduced Retired Captain of the U.S. Army Reserves Terri James, who is now Family and Consumer Science Agent Staff Chair for the University of Arkansas Systems, Division of Agriculture Research and Extension Services for Hempstead County. She was commissioned as Second Lieutenant from her Missouri Western State University ROTC program after graduation from there with her Bachelor of Science degree with minor in Military Science.
James, whose family includes generations of military and war veterans dating back to the Civil War, described being assigned after officer basic training as a member of the Missouri Army National Guard Signal Battalion to Fort Gordon, Georgia. There she met her husband Ralph James. Eight months after their marriage, James said, “he had orders for Izmir, Turkey. We spent almost two years there, and I still had my reserve obligation to meet. I spent my two weeks of duty in Germany” and then the Jameses found themselves back in the U.S. Next assignment? Fort Huachuca, Arizona.
Among the other assigned places for Terrie James were Santa Monica, California; Fort McCoy, Wisconsin; Fort Carson, Colorado; Fort Bliss, Texas.
As another example of women serving in the military, James read some correspondence from her cousin Cindy Matlock, who joined the Air Force and eventually worked for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). “I worked with 13 different nationalities and had to prove myself, as a woman in uniform, that I could do the job,” Matlock said. “I have a better understanding of why it takes some time to accomplish NATO plans.”
Matlock did not retire until August of 1992 and did so with the ranking of Chief Master Sergeant. As she left Altus Air Force Base (Oklahoma), Matlock wrote, “It was very difficult taking the uniform off, as I was also taking off an identity and title that I had worn proudly for 22 years.” One of Matlock's favorite memories occurred just before the day she retired when she saw a C141 Starlifter land that was flown by an all-female squad.
James said Matlock enjoys those occasions when she can meet other military members. “Just last week, while having lunch in Santa Fe town square café, in walks a crew of seven retired military medical women … They talked me into ordering another Chardonnay, and we talked for an hour. Sisters out of uniform.” Of Matlock, James said, "She was someone that I knew in my age bracket that joined the military, and I was inspired by her decision."
James predicted, “Women will make up a larger share of the veteran population, add to its diversity and require veteran services geared to their specific needs. The debt owed to all our veterans and to women in particular demands nothing less than full attention in action,” she said, then thanked the veterans and their families in attendance and urged the veterans to share their stories.
James received generous applause as attendees stood up to honor her service and her speech.
Next to speak was Mayor of Hope Don Still, who said with the recent passing of his mother, letters had been found that were written between his parents during his father’s service in World War II. The letters gave him an appreciation for what was sacrificed by that generation. “I was telling somebody today we've lost a generation,” Still said. “The generation today--they don't have any idea the sacrifices that you made for us so we can be free.”
Still also thanked fellow members of the committee of county, city and veterans community leaders who helped plan the parade and the ceremony today. He also acknowledged the civic clubs involved in planning and assembling resources and volunteers: the Lions, the Civitans, Kiwanis and Rotary.
The Benediction was given by Pastor Revel Kidd of Spring Hill Christian Church.
Afterward, about 200 veterans, their spouses, their family members and other attendees enjoyed meals from a Lions Club Fish Fry that club members had worked since early this morning to prepare. Planning for the two events of Friday and today began in late September.
Correction: an earlier version of this story mistook Cindy Matlock's correspondence as read by Terrie James for James describing her own experience. This mistake has been corrected in the story. The writer regrets the error.
