Weaverville – The nation celebrated Veteran’s Day last week, and the Town of Weaverville held its 12th Veteran’s Day Observance in the Community Center at Dottie Sherrill Knoll on Friday, November 11th.
A prelude of music was performed by Howard and Kristen Dusenbery just before the observation, followed by a welcome by Weaverville Councilman Doug Jackson and the singing of the National Anthem by all, led by Kristen Dusenbery.
After an unusual invocation, which was given by Rev. Willis Gains, Pastor of Brittains Cove Presbyterian Church, who asked attendees not to close their eyes during the prayer. While he prayed, he first asked all to stand who had served in the military. Next, he asked anyone who had a relative who died in service to stand. He continued on as more and more people stood until he finally asked anyone who went to bed under the freedom a veteran had supplied to stand, and all stood where he ended the prayer with an amen.
Kristen then sang the “American Creed,” after which Howard played “Jesus Kroedur” on his bagpipes, followed by Jackson formally introducing the main speaker, Army Lieutenant Colonel David Thorneloe of Asheville.
Thorneloe’s address
Thorneloe served 20 years of dedicated service in the United States Army, including deployments with the 101st Airborne Division in Afghanistan and as a peacekeeper in Sinai, Egypt. Beyond his military service, Lt. Col. Thorneloe is a respected attorney and currently holds the position of Deputy Staff Judge Advocate of the North Carolina Army National Guard. He has also been an Assistant United States Attorney in Asheville since 2009.
He began, as all good lawyers should, with a disclaimer that all remarks he made were his and were not endorsed by the Army or US government, which drew a chuckle from the more than 50 people attending the event.
He said the group was there to honor and thank veterans, but “for gratitude to have any meaning, we have to understand what it is that we’re thanking them for.” He said he would try to do that by looking at “two things: what was the cost of service, and what is it all for?” Before doing so, he recounted his journey in the military and what had brought him to this point in life, from the World Trade Center attack on 9/11 to serving just miles away from Gaza and Israel.
He then tackled the first question: What’s the cost of service – sacrifice. “Being a veteran is to be one of the few. Fewer than seven percent of the US adults have ever served in our armed forces, and that number continues to decline.” He talked about having to be deployed away from family on holidays and events and the scars that come from conflict. He spoke of the burden of war that veterans carry (some 20-plus veterans commit suicide every day as they struggle with the reality of war).
He also spoke of his dad’s service in Vietnam in the Navy, including his last service in a unit that was disbanded shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union. “Now, I’m not saying he was responsible for the collapse of the Soviet Union, but I don’t know for sure.” He said his dad got sick from Agent Orange, which used to defoliate the jungles, and he wanted to say to his dad, “Who I hope can hear us right now, ‘Job well done, dad. You did your part, and I’ll take the next watch.”
He ended his speech with, “There is no other nation around the world whose people are so blessed…We [veterans] wouldn’t want it any other way. The fruits of our service are a gift we want you to have.” He encouraged veterans to share their experiences with others. “Every day of peace and joy is a gift from a veteran. In the words of our Creator, “No greater love has no one but this than he lay down his life for his friends.”
After his address, Thorneloe was given a standing ovation for his soul-stirring, patriotic oration. His address was followed by a video-recorded rifle salute by the Weaverville Police Department, along with “Taps” by a member of the Weaverville Fire Department.
Jackson said not on the program was a short address by Susan Briggs. Briggs got up and told those gathered that a bench had recently been placed in the Nature Park in honor of her Vietnam veteran husband, who died, and invited the public to visit the bench. Howard Dusenbery then played “Amazing Grace,” and Gains gave a benediction before dismissing.
How did we get Veterans’ Day?
Veterans Day, originally known as Armistice Day, traces its origins back to the conclusion of World War I. On November 11th, 1918, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, a ceasefire agreement was signed, marking the end of hostilities on the Western Front.
The day was initially commemorated to honor the armistice and the veterans of World War I. In 1938, Armistice Day became a federal holiday dedicated to the cause of world peace. However, after World War II and the Korean War, it became evident that honoring all veterans was more fitting.
In 1954, the holiday was officially renamed Veterans Day by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, broadening its scope to honor the service and sacrifice of all US military veterans and reflecting the nation’s gratitude for the contributions of veterans from various wars and conflicts.
Since then, Veterans Day has been observed annually on November 11th, serving as a poignant reminder of the bravery and dedication exhibited by those who have served in the United States Armed Forces.