More than 100 people gathered at the Lampasas County Courthouse Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. for a Veterans Day service.
Judge Randy Hoyer led the ceremony, which was preceded with music performed by Neil Herndon, an Air Force veteran.
“On Veterans Day, we honor those who honored our country with the highest form of service,” Hoyer said. “You who wore the uniform, we owe you our thanks, we owe you our respect, we owe you our freedom.”
Hoyer said Americans owe veterans gratitude not just for their military service, but also for the example they set as patriotic citizens.
D’Anne Willis led the audience in singing the national anthem, and Lampasas County Veterans Service Officer Matthew Reed led the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Hoyer thanked military families for their service, saying we must not forget the contributions of our “heroes on the homefront.”
“Our military forces could not carry out their duties without the support of family and friends,” he said.
Robert Stulka of American Legion Post 277 introduced the guest speaker, Col. John “Mike” Wallace.
Wallace is the deputy commander of the Texas Army National Guard 36th Infantry Division. He was deployed to Kuwait, twice to Iraq, and to Afghanistan.
Wallace thanked the veterans in the audience for attending the event.
“I hope you feel as proud of your service as I do of mine,” he said.
Wallace explained the history of Veterans Day, which originally was created as Armistice Day to mark the end of World War I. The holiday was renamed Veterans Day in 1954, and was designated as a day to honor all American veterans.
He also spoke about the history of the 36th Infantry Division, which served in World War I, World War II and the Global War on Terror. The division has deployed thousands of troops across the globe.
Wallace said National Guard members are “our neighbors, co-workers, friends, family and — most importantly — our fellow Texans.”
He thanked military families for their “selfless services.”
“Thank you to all for your services to this great nation,” he said.
Daniel Swanson and Keith Callis of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8539 laid a wreath at the base of the courthouse flagpole as Madelyn Hess played “Taps,” and Willis sang “God Bless America.”
Hoyer said we can never serve veterans in the same way they served us.
“But we can serve the greater good by practicing kindness, respecting one another and offering a helping hand,” the judge said.
