'Not the time to protest,' Rev. Smith tells Vets Day audience

November 17, 2005

“Today we are at war. And as in every war, we are hearing dissenting opinions from those who passionately believe in their cause. And they have every right to do that. Men have died through all these wars in order that we might, as Americans, be able to stand and present our points of view. But we need to be assured—and we are sure—though they are serious, they are seriously wrong.”

Those words were delivered by Rev. Dale Smith of Oneida in a moving and memorable address at the annual American Legion observance of Veterans Day at the War Memorial Building in Oneida Friday morning.

But Rev. Smith did not stop there in his comments about those protesting the war in Iraq.

“This is not the time to protest what our troops are doing as a liberating army,” he continued, “but a time to be united in support of our troops and their mission. As much as we would like things to be otherwise, we can’t separate the troops from the mission, and the war from the warrior. To support one we must support them both. And, when we are victorious, there will be plenty of time to quarrel among ourselves on how we can do better.”

Smith, best known for his long tenure as director of missions for the New River Baptist Association, was the featured speaker for the annual American Legion Post 136 Veterans Day observance. Married to the former Flonnie Douglas and the father of three grown children, Rev. Smith is a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served with the 547th Armored Field Artillery (1951-53) during the Korean Conflict.

His brief address Friday included mention of a few of his experiences in the service, a somewhat humorous but patriotic tale of an incident which turned the tide for the Allies in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II, and he also recounted two incidents from the battleground in Iraq — all aimed at revealing the traditional character traits of America’s soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines: “determination, resistance, willingness to sacrifice, possessing an iron will and devotion to duty.”

Rev. Smith encouraged his audience to keep in contact with those serving in the military, particularly those deployed overseas. He said that during his military service, letters from home kept him mindful of his roots and his Christian upbringing.

“I was a young man, inexperienced, never been nowhere and done very little of anything and I was out there in the great big world,” he said. “Many things were proposed and presented and, like everybody else, though I was a Christian, I was of the flesh and sometimes they would present some very convincing opportunities that were out there to take the place of the loneliness and sometimes insecurity you might feel.”

But he said, about the time he was ready to give in to his temptation, he would receive a letter from Sister Lavonia Griffith, whom he identified as his contact person with the First Baptist Church of Oneida.

Smith said her letter expressed “how they were praying, how they were lifting me up, reminding me of my Christian character, and of how important it was that I was a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. Those letters came and many times they changed the direction of my thinking . . . .

“Take a little time [to write someone in the military], you never know when that word you deliver will be just the word that individual needs at that particular time and place,” he said.

Smith concluded his remarks by commending American Legion Post 136 for it’s funeral detail which takes part in military services at the grave side of veterans for their “reverence and respect” as well as for stirring the hearts and souls and bringing comfort to those who have lost loved ones.

Also on the Veteran’s Day program were Cadet Master Sergeant Chris Hughett and Cadet Capt. Trevor Lowe of the Scott County Air Force Junior ROTC, who served as the color guard for the ceremony; Huntsville’s Bert Walker, who led the audience in patriotic songs; the Rev. J.C. Reynolds, who led the opening and closing prayers for the observance; American Legion Post 136 Adjutant Curtis Marcum who emceed the event; and Oneida’s Ralph Hoffman, who encouraged the veterans to participate in a local program designed at video taping the memories of the veterans from various wars.

During the course of the meeting, veterans in attendance were recognized for their service, including eight each who fought in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, and one representing the Gulf War. Also recongized were members of the three local veterans organizations, the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

newsroom@ihoneida.com

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