NSDAR Hosts Memorial Day Tribute

 

 

 

Story and Photos by Beverly Bonilla

 

The Butler County Chapter NSDAR Memorial Day Program took place on the courthouse lawn on May 25, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.  It was a beautiful sunny day, a bit windy but that didn’t stop many in the community from coming out to remember those who have fallen serving our country.  The Cub Scout Pack 208 handed out the many programs for those who attended.

Gail Gaddie from the Butler County Chapter NSDAR welcomed everyone to the program.  First on the program was Ann Bartholomew, BCDAR, with the invocation. The reading for the Posting of Colors was done by Gail Gaddie.  Next came the Presentation of the Flag, General Richard Butler Chapter, SAR and the Pledge to the Flag by Green River Chapter CAR.  The National Anthem was sung beautifully by Rachel Holton.

 

 

Debrah Worley was asked to introduce the speaker of the day, Major Jim Wright, USMC (ret).  Mr. Wright is a veteran and spent 20 years in active duty in the United States Marine Corps as an aviator flying helicopters, jets and turboprops. In 1993 Jim moved with his wife Karen, son Andy and daughter Laurie to Bowling Green and is an active member of Greenwood Park Church of Christ.  In 2012 Jim retired from the American Airlines as an International pilot flying the B767. Jim was presented with a quilt made by Darlene Scott, and the members of Butler County Piecemakers. Since 2017 the Butler County Piecemakers have given out 275 quilts to those Veterans who served our Country.

 

 

Roger Sutherland presented the remarks by talking about WW1, Flanders Field and read the Flanders Field poem by Lieutenant Coloney John McCrae.  VFW Post 5837 Auxiliary President, Tabitha Mattingly, hopes that we all remember the purpose of this day.  To remember those who have fallen and their sacrifices.  This past week volunteers visited 96 cemeteries and placed 1,411 flags on graves of our fallen brothers and sisters of Butler County.  Tabitha took a moment to share names given to her by members of their post.  These men were brothers in arms that were lost but will never be forgotten, Master Sgt Adam Arnold, Major Charles Ransom, Sgt First Class Jeremy Kesslering, Sgt First Class Whisenhut, Sgt Willet, Sgt Martin, Corporeal Manibog, Sgt Rhett, Lieutenant Runyon, 2^nd Lieutenant Jimmy Sherrill, Sgt Ronnie Tarrance, Hobert Cecil Wingfield U.S. Navy, George Hope U.S. Navy, Corporeal Henry Tarrance U.S. Army Air Corp, Jennings 2 tours Vietnam U.S. Air Force, Ron Pharris Vietnam U.S. Army, Archie Daugherty WW2, George Sasarak WW2, Florido Pirini WW2, Ballard B. Mattingly Marine Corp, Specialist 4^th Class Ellis Clay Gidcumb U.S. Army and Specialist Michael Hayes U.S. Army.

 

 

Next on the program was the Laying of the Wreath which included Deborah Worley, BCDAR, Rachel Sublett GRDAR, Bryan Pharris, VFW Aux and Tabitha Mattingly, Auxiliary President.  During the Laying of the Wreath, Don Elmore played Taps.

 

 

To end the program was the Retrieval of Colors and the Benediction given by Elaine Daugherty, Green River Chapter NSDAR.