Humility. Thanksgiving. Gratitude.
Clarendon County Veterans Affairs Director Leon Richburg told a crowd in Pink Dogwood Park in Summerton that Veteran's Day makes him feel humble and gracious for all the sacrifices made by veterans and their families.
"Which have allowed us in America to be the proud nation we are today," he said, as he asked for God's continued blessings upon our veterans.
President Eisenhower issued a proclamation in 1954 to declare Nov. 11 as Veteran's Day, he noted.
"We can't thank you enough," he said, for facing enemies bravely, gallantly, courageously and without fear knowing the ultimate sacrifice was a possibility. "Many did that. We salute them for their courageousness."
Winston Churchill, he said, noted that one makes a living by what he gets but makes a life but what he gives.
"And who can give anything more of any possession that God could bless us with is that when you gave your all -- you left your families behind, some lost their lives, and it was all done because of the love for our nation," he said. "We need to be and we must be protected."
Richburg was personally disturbed by widespread media reports of several VA hospitals providing inferior and neglectful care.
"There's no excuse for that. You've suffered enough," he said.
Veterans deserve the best, he said.
"We must do our part to see that you are empowered with the medical services that you are entitled to," he said.
Veterans have been true to their cause, he said. "And seriously true to your native land and we thank God for you."
From May 1953 to December 1975, Roosevelt Mitchell's Army service saw him pay his dues in the Infantry as well as Corps of Engineers. For him, Veterans Day is a day of thanksgiving.
"For having been through what I went through and I'm still here," he said. "It's a day of joy, peace, love and thanksgiving."
Carl Farley's 24 years and 6 months of Navy service ended with him achieving the rank of command master chief. It's important to remember those he served with, he said.
"A lot of them didn't make it," he said.
