Post 370 Commander Ed McCloskey at the podium. Photo by Christopher Smith/Staff
On a rainy Thursday last week, several veterans and members of the Highlands community gathered under the Highlands Playhouse awning to honor veterans.
American Legion Post 370 Chaplin Paul Schowalter began the ceremony with a prayer.
“Eternal heavenly father, we acknowledge with gratitude your divine providence and power,” Schowalter said. “As we gather to recognize the millions of veterans who have served you and who have served our nation, please usher into our world peace and tranquility. Bless and protect our nation with your loving kindness. Be merciful and gracious in honor of our deceased veterans and to the many men and women who are currently performing their duties and to those who have performed their duties with valor, honor and selflessness over the years. These are the people who have helped you serve the liberties that we enjoy daily. Please continue to provide our noble nation with individuals who seek to serve you and seek to serve our nation’s upright causes. We dedicate this ceremony to you as we seek guidance, blessing and love from our guiding master and Lord.”
Post 370 Commander Ed McCloskey began after the prayer with the history of Veteran’s Day.
“On March 16, 1919, the American Legion was founded which means we are celebrating the 2nd year of our second hundred years,” McCloskey said. “On November 11, that same year, 1919, following the end of World War 1, President Woodrow Wilson authorized Armistice Day to recognize World War 1 veterans. In 1945, armistice day was expanded to recognize all veterans not just WW1. So, in 1947, we celebrated the first Veteran’s Day for all veterans thanks to Raymond Weeks, known later as the ‘Father of Veteran’s Day.’ Veteran’s Day was celebrated on the fourth Monday of October until it was moved back to November 11 in 1978.
Traditionally, it is celebrated on the 11th month, the 11th day, at the 11th hour. We follow that tradition here today.”
Veteran, Post 370 member and recently re-elected Mayor Pat Taylor started off his speech acknowledging the rain.
“For those that have served, we know that this is G.I. weather,” Taylor said. “There are times when you are on duty when you are sitting there not wanting to work and a commander will come up and say, ‘Get up and do your duty.’ It made me think of the first G.I.’s Those men endured winter in 1788 at Valley Forge in camp with Washington. I have just finished a book titled Valley Forge, and it is an in-depth history of what those first G.I.’s endured. While they were in camp, the British were living the good life in Philadelphia. Those G.I.’s had to deal with some things that most of us veterans didn’t have to deal with. We were always given four meals a day, good places to sleep, uniforms and medical attention. All of those things were part of our service. Those early G.I.’s didn’t have any of that. What really struck me is that these men set the military standard for all military personnel in the United States, which was they stayed on duty, and they endured unbelievable hardship. I read the prologue to that book and many of the veterans went on to achieve greatness in business and in service. Many of them went back home and lived that civilian life. That to me is the spirit of the American veteran. You hang in there and you do your duty while doing extraordinary things, then you go back and live in your community and live a great life. That is what we should be celebrating today.”
McCloskey got on the stand after Taylor, giving the history of the American Legion in Highlands and mentioning the United States Marines’ Birthday. He said a common thread unites each of the country’s veterans.
“There has been an American Legion post here in Highlands since 1946. Many of our current membership are in attendance today,” McCloskey said. “I would also be remis if I didn’t acknowledge the 246th birthday celebrated yesterday to our United States Marines.
Semper fi. Just like the fabric of the uniforms they’ve worn, and the insignias sewn on them, a common thread unites each of our country’s veterans, ‘They dared to serve.’ We pause today to salute all those who have made the choice to serve together. From basic training to combat missions, the trials and triumphs we experience together forge unique ties that last a lifetime.
They are ordinary Americans who were asked to do extraordinary things. On Memorial Day, we salute those who paid the ultimate sacrifice; today, on Veteran’s Day, we salute those who served and were lost, those who returned to us and those who serve today all over the world.”
Former President Trump passed a resolution that all who served in one of the five branches since 1941 and were discharged honorably may join the American Legion. McCloskey reached out to all the veterans inviting them to join Post 370.
“Soon, the members of our newest service, the space force, will join our ranks,” McCloskey said. “For those veterans who are in attendance today we invite you to join our post here in Highlands. We meet once a month on the third Saturday morning for breakfast at 9 a.m., cooked and served by a Navy cook then our meeting follows at 10 a.m., in their 909 Chapel of the First United Methodist Church just a few blocks from here at 315 Main Street. COVID-19 has kept us from eating and meeting but as soon as we are released, I will notify the community and our members now numbering 65 strong.”
Each Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day, bricks are installed for veterans on the Veteran’s Walkway. McCloskey said families are allowed to reach out and put their family veterans on these bricks.
“With us this morning is the president of the Highlands Historical Society and veteran member of our American Legion Post, Army veteran, Obie Oakley, with a salute to veteran’s display,” McCloskey said. “Members of Post 370, their families and veteran residents of Highlands, Cashiers and Scaly Mountain and their families that served, may have a veteran’s brick laid on the Veteran’s Walkway to memorialize their service to our country. See vice commander Bill Reese or our financial officer Bill Edwards to reserve your brick. Or visit our 24/7 silent order taker. Since our founding of our veteran’s honor brick walk, we have installed 322 bricks, which includes the eight veterans we install here today. We invite you to observe these installations following today’s ceremony. Remember our next installation ceremony of veteran bricks will be on Memorial Day 2021. There is space for 1,000 hall of fame bricks so order today to memorialize and recognize your veteran family and friends from the Highlands, Cashiers and Scaly Mountain areas and be here for the next installation service on Memorial Day 2021.”
The veterans honored on Veteran’s Day were:
Dan Snavely – Navy
Griffin B. Bell – Army
William H. “Bob” Reese – Army
Thomas “Greasy” Reese – Army
James G. Reese – Army
William R. “Bill” Reese – Army
Henry “Hank” Reese – Army
Gary Lynn Finley – Air Force
The ceremony ended with past Post 370 Commander Ed Jones playing Taps.
- By Christopher Smith