May 26, 2024
By: Dwayne Page
Remembering!
Members of the community joined the American Legion Post #122 in observing Memorial Day during a program held Saturday at the county complex.
The event featured patriotic music by Susan Hinton, a welcome by Ronnie Redmon, presentation of Colors by the Marine Corps League’s Bobby Ray Detachment #1377 of McMinnville, the Pledge of Allegiance and then a performance of the Star-Spangled Banner by Emily Phillips, a prayer by local minister Larry Green, and the introduction of the speaker by Judy Redmon.
Ralph Vaughn, the featured speaker, spoke of heroes who paid the price throughout our country’s history to make it possible for Americans to enjoy the freedoms of today and he called on the community to carry on their legacy of service.
“Scripture tells us to honor those whom honor is due,” said Vaughn. “That’s why we are here today to pay tribute and honor to the befallen soldiers who gave the supreme sacrifice that you and I could be here today”.
“While those fallen soldiers, men and women fought with great valor and gave the supreme sacrifice, we also want to honor today our law enforcement, all of our first responders, and everybody who has contributed to the cause of freedom for America,” Vaughn continued.
“Memorial Day in America began as Decoration Day. When the Civil War ended in the spring of 1865 communities throughout America began having Decoration Day,” explained Vaughn. “The reason it was chosen for May is because flowers would be in bloom. They could take those flowers and decorate the graves of fallen soldiers, Union and Confederate. The first real large observance of Decoration Day was in 1868 at Arlington National Cemetery where approximately 5,000 participants decorated the graves of some 20,000 Civil War soldiers, Union and Confederate. Memorial Day later evolved to be held on the last of May to honor the fallen soldiers that decorate the graves. Congress later made Memorial Day official on the last Monday in May as we know it today to honor fallen soldiers of all wars,” he said.
Vaughn mentioned his own family’s connection to the Civil War with the service of his great great grandfather who served in the Tennessee Army and was wounded in the battle of Missionary Ridge at Chattanooga in 1863. Although he survived, Vaughn said his courageous great great grandfather bore the scars of the war the rest of his life.
Throughout the nation’s history, Vaughn said many great heroes have stood tall such as George Washington, Alvin C. York, George Patton, Douglas MacArthur, Dwight Eisenhower and many more but there were lesser known heroes who were just as courageous. “There are many people we stand on the shoulders of today including those who never made national headlines but they served and because of their service we are here today,” he said.
“We are to pass the torch,” Vaughn said. “You and I are to serve in some kind of capacity. It may be in the military, community service, law enforcement, or as a first responder. We all have a responsibility. We are here to serve. The Lord made us for His purpose. Lets give thanks today and may we never forget why we celebrate Memorial Day. May God Bless us. May He Bless our military, our law enforcement, first responders, and anyone who is committed to the cause of freedom,” said Vaughn who closed his remarks with a prayer.
After the program, the group gathered at the site of the veterans memorial monument outside the courthouse where a wreath was placed for the occasion followed by the Marine Corps League’s 3 Volley Salute and then Taps.
About the guest speaker:
Ralph Vaughn was home grown in DeKalb County. He managed and was broadcaster for radio station WJLE for 15 years from 1970-85. Vaughn was one of the original committee members of the Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree and Crafts Festival and he served as emcee and voice of the Jamboree for 25 years.
Ralph later became President of Chambers of Commerce in Rutherford County, at Madison Georgia, and the Tennessee Christian Chamber of Commerce for a combined total of 18 years.
Vaughn was the personal assistant to Ronnie Barrett in Murfreesboro, the inventor of the shoulder fired 50 caliber rifle that is used by every branch of the United States military and allied countries around the world.
Ralph served six months in the U.S. Army and finished his military career with the 130th Military Police Company of the Tennessee Army National Guard. He and his wife June, another Smithville native, now live in Nashville.