Editor:
Members of the All Veterans Memorial Council thank everyone who helped with our ceremony on Memorial Day at the Monument. Again the community was very supportive of our efforts to remember those veterans of America's armed forces who gave their lives for their country.
Thanks to Col. Bill Hartman (WVARNG, Retired) and West Virginia House of Delegates, 37th District for the words reminding us of what this day is all about, Mayor Duke Talbott for his welcoming remarks, Pastor Terry Cannon and the Rev. Ronald Nestor for the invocation and benediction, the American Legion Post 29 Honor Guard, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3647 Firing Squad for participating and thanks to Roy Teets, VFW bugler, for playing taps. We thank all the veterans organizations for participating, including the Roaring Creek Post 5583 VFW, Chapter 812 VVA, Crow Detachment Marine Corps League and the ladies of all veterans auxiliaries. Your participation is what makes these ceremonies possible.
Thanks also go to Elkins merchants who support our monument throughout the year and especially when we schedule our ceremonies. Mary's Greenhouse provides year round flower care at the monument, Margaret Stalnaker at Ideal Material Shoppe is a great help to us in keeping our flags mended and presentable, Tomblyn Funeral Home and staff provide the canopy for our ceremonies and the Elkins Retail Merchants Association always provide snacks and beverages for our ceremonies. Thanks to The Inter-Mountain for publicizing our ceremonies in the paper, which truly contributes to the large attendance of local folks that come out to honor and show respect to our veterans. We are most appreciative to all for your support.
A special thanks to the youth and staff of the Highland Adventist School for all their support. We appreciate the help passing out the programs, lowering and raising the flags and singing the National Anthem and God Bless America. As always, we enjoy the youth of our community helping us honor and remember our veterans.
Finally, we want to thank a couple family members who routinely help us and somehow get overlooked in our kudos. Thanks to our wives Trish and Wilga, a daughter Capt. Christa Lothes and a father Clyde Wood, all who routinely work on our ceremonies but somehow get over looked. Thank you very much for all your help.
It was really an enjoyable day and ceremony and we thank you all. May God bless America and all of our wonderful military personnel who make it possible for us to enjoy the freedom and liberty that God has bestowed upon this great nation.
Jeff Wood, Chairman
John E. Lothes, Vice chairman
All Veterans Memorial Counci
