Winningham urges praise for veterans
State Representative Les Winningham told a Veterans Day audience Monday that he’s been seeing a decline in respect for the American flag and the American veteran, and expessed concern that public sentiment was turning against patrotism.
The featured speaker for Monday’s Veterans Day obserance hosted by American Legion Post #136 at the War Memorial Buildling in Oneida, Winningham declared that veterans “are the embodiment of America itself” and urged a return to this country’s tradition of honor and respect for its flag and its veterans.
“It’s great to be an American,” Winningham stated in his opening remarks, noting that everything that makes it great “was made possible by the American veteran — the American soldier.”
He stated that each member of his audience knew of someone who did not return from their service in the military, yet over the past 20 years or so it appears we’re moving “farther and farther away” from the tradition of honoring our veterans.
Winningham said there’s no difference between the men who served at Valley Forge and the veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan — “They’re all warriors, they’re all protectors and above all, they’re all patriots.”
He went on to say respect for our flag and for our veterans seems to be falling by the way, due to public sentiment against war. But, he added, “We’ve got to return to some value of respect,” if for no other reason that it’s critical to the continuation of a all-volunteer armed services.
Winningham said it’s important to let veterans know that you’re grateful for their service, appreciative, and that you remember.
In closing, he challenged his audience to honor a wounded veteran this holiday season by adding him or her to your holiday card list.
“Think of the situation at Walter Reed Hospital,” Winningham said. “Send a card to: ‘A Recovering American Soldier,’ c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 6900 Georgia Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20307.”
Winningham, a Democrat from Huntsville, is the representative for the 38th Legislative District which includes Scott County. He is chairman of the Education Committee in the State House, as well as chairman of the ad hoc Unemployment Committee, and is a member of the Calendar and Rules Committee. Winningham also is co-chairman of the Joint Oversight Committee. He and his wife, Peggy, have five daughters and four grandchildren.
The American Legion Veterans Day observance opened with an invocation by the Rev. J.C. Reynolds, singing of the national anthem by Bert Walker, and an introductory remarks by Charles Beets.
Among the special guests in attendance were Scott County Mayor Rick Keeton, Oneida Mayor Jack E. Lay, County Trustee Jimmy Byrd, County Register of Deeds Benjie Rector, County Clerk Pat Phillips and County Commissioner Odeva Byrd.
Veterans in attendance included seven from World War II service, nine from the Korean Conflict, eight from the Vietnam war, and one former POW.