Largest crowd in program's history attends Kerr County Memorial Day observance

Kerr County’s high level of patriotism and gratitude for our nation’s fallen heroes was on full display Monday, May 27, when the Kerr County Memorial Day Program drew its largest crowd to date.

FOR A PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE EVENT, CLICK HERE.

Local residents and visitors joined in their own lawn chairs, on the concrete benches and picnic tables, under newly added shade tents and everywhere within hearing distance of the program, which was centered around the war memorial on the Kerr County Courthouse grounds in Kerrville.

“This gathering is just one small spark in the flame of pride that burns across the nation today and every day,” said keynote speaker, retired U.S. Air Force Command Chief Master Sergeant Roy A. Boudreaux. “It’s not a lot, but it’s one small way we can honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can live in freedom.”

Memorial Day is more than a “barbecue” holiday, Boudreaux said. “It’s a day of remembrance, a day of solemn reflection to honor the sacrifice made by the men and women who have died during their service in the United States military.”

Those who gave their lives in service to our country were dedicated to the worthy cause of freedom, and not one of them died in vain, he added.

Since the American Revolution, literally millions of Americans have fought and died on battlefields here and abroad to defend our freedoms and our way of life.

“So, we’re here today to honor our heroes … to remember their achievements, their courage and their dedication, and to express our gratitude for their sacrifices,” Boudreaux said.

The keynote speaker then shared a story about one of his former best friends – Congressional Medal of Honor recipient William H. Pitsenbarger (known as “Pits”).

The pair served together in Vietnam, and Boudreaux recalled how on April 11, 1966, the U.S. Army’s 21st Division, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Rangers, Charlie Company – better known as the “Mud Solders – were on a search-and-destroy mission intended to draw out a Viet Cong battalion when they were ambushed and found themselves fighting for their lives in the rubber plantations of Cam My village.

Pitsenbarger, who was off-duty at the time, soon positioned himself on a rescue helicopter responding to a call for evacuation of casualties. Once on scene, he immediately organized and coordinated rescue efforts, tended to the wounded, prepared casualties for evacuation and insured the recovery operation continued in a smooth and orderly fashion.

“The young man from Piqua, Ohio, repeatedly crawled through a living hell, exposing himself to enemy fire while giving medical aid to the wounded. When the enemy launched an aggressive assault, the rescue helicopter was hit with intense ground fire and was in danger of crashing. At that point, Pits could have opted to be lifted back on board the helicopter. Instead, he waived them off and stayed on the ground,” Boudreaux said.

“He took up arms with the besieged infantrymen and courageously resisted the enemy, braving intense gunfire to gather and redistribute vital ammunition to the embattled soldiers.”

As the battle wore on, Pits would expose himself to enemy fire as he cared for the wounded, pulling them out of the line of fire and returning fire whenever he could. He was shot three times, but despite his own injuries he continued to fight while treating as many wounded soldiers as he could.

In the battle, 80 percent of the 134 men of Charlie Company became casualties. Several survivors later bore witness to the heroic actions of Pitsenbarger, the staff sergeant and pararescueman, who died that day at the age of 21 years old.

To the platoons who trudged through the jungles of Vietnam to the soldiers who shivered and starved through the winter at Valley Forge to the doughboys crouched in the trenches of France to the young men and women patrolling the mountains of Afghanistan – “we remember and we honor them all,” Boudreaux said.

“May we always remember … they served, they fought, and died so that we might be safe and free. We pray that God grant them eternal peace and rest. Let us never forget the price they paid to keep our country free,” Boudreaux concluded.

Jeff Harris, a Kerrville City Council member and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, served as the master of ceremonies for the event.

Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly said Monday’s turnout was a “wonderful testament” to those who died for this country. His own father was a U.S. Marine and he carried a book of poetry that was “his comfort as he went through the Pacific.”  Kelly told how his father had memorized the poems and recited them from memory to his children on family trips. Kelly had that same tattered book with him Monday and, from it, read the poem “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae.

He invited the crowd to “throw the torch” by speaking the name of their choice of a military person who gave their life to this country. “I think there is power in saying the names. They are remembered,” he said. “As long as someone alive remembers them and can say their name on Memorial Day, they live on.”

Monday’s program also featured a parade of wreaths, which were laid at the base of the county memorial by local organizations, a reciting of the local names written on the war memorial (in order of conflict), a three volley salute, trumpeted “TAPS”, “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes and more.

Plans are underway to host the Memorial Day program next year, when the holiday will fall on Monday, May 26.

‘THROWING THE TORCH’ – Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly recites the poem “In Flanders Field” and invites audience members to “throw the torch” by speaking aloud the name of a military person who answered the call and died in service to this country. “There is power in saying the names,” he said. – Photo by Lisa Walter/Kerr County Public Relations

KEYNOTE SPEAKER Roy A. Boudreaux, a retired U.S. Air Force Command Chief Master Sergeant and local business owner, delivered a powerful message to the largest crowd in the history of the Kerr County Memorial Day Program. As he defined the meaning of the day (which is far beyond a “barbecue” holiday), he retold the story of William H. Pitsenbarger, whose heroic efforts saved many fellow soldiers in Vietnam, but who lost his life in the process. – Photo by Lisa Walter/Kerr County Public Relations