The Rev. Donald Plants shared the above story about his granddaughter during the recent Disabled American Veterans-Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary (DAV-DAVA) Unit 62 Memorial Day service held in Cedar Bluff Town Park. The Rev. Plants was a POW during World War II.
“She says, ‘You’re a Grand Ol’ Flag! Everybody salute the Grand Ol’ Flag’ every time she sees it!” said Rev. Plants. “And I don’ think that’s too far off from what we all should think!”
A good crowd of local citizens attended the festivities. As part of the program, Rev. Plants recognized some of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country and also read from the 23rd chapter of Psalms in the Holy Bible.
Cedar Bluff Mayor Bob Davis was the guest speaker for the program.
“It's a real pleasure to welcome you here,” said Davis. “I really appreciate the work the DAV/DAVA Chapter 62 does. Cedar Bluff is very proud to host this event. We welcome you to a town where you are our very special guests. Those of you who are veterans, disabled veterans and family members and the special guests, politicians, thank you very much for coming and welcome to Cedar Bluff.”
It was 1959 in the small town of Abbeville, S.C. where Davis got the call to serve his country. Davis’ father, who was a veteran, offered to get him a deferment, but Davis wanted to answer the call. Davis confessed to his father years later that at that time, he wanted to escape farm life. But he does love his country.
“I do hold this country very high in my standards and I am a very proud American,” said Davis. “Those who have felt the heat of battle, there is nothing glorious about war. Combat is cruel and brutal. War tears the body apart and destroys the mind. War is Hell. That is what Gen. Sherman said. At certain times in our history, we are sent to fight, but war is hell. Warfare has claimed the lives of more than 1,250,000 young Americans in uniform. As we think about that figure, our minds stagger. We see the point that Gen. Sherman was making as he refused to glorify War.”
“But that’s not why we came here today,” said Davis. “Instead, we gather to honor those who stood up to the terrible trials of war and met the challenge in defense of liberty and particularly to date, we pay our tribute to the heroism of those who died in our nation’s wars advancing the great cause of human freedom. Certainly we hold these men and women in our hearts as we observe Memorial Day 2004. It is the year during which we dedicate the World War II Memorial at the National Mall in Washington, D.C.”
During World War II, Americans saw the brutal face of warfare, Davis said, with two major enemies.
“In Europe we were confronted with the hated political doctrine that had taken over our nation and much of the continent,” said Davis. “Worse yet, the Nazis were trying to exterminate a whole race of human beings. Their victory would have spelled the end of the western civilization. In the Pacific, we faced a power that sent the flower of its youth off in junk airplanes to commit suicide by crashing into our ships all for the worship of an emperor and the love of an empire. Truly in times of war, human beings can sink to in human depths yet under the extreme conditions of armed conflict, we also see the human heart soar to heights of incredibly nobility. Much will be said in praise of the veterans of World War II before the festivities are over and many will think back to Tom Brokaw’s name for them, The Greatest Generation. This is just as it ought to be. The veterans of the Second World War, richly earned the honor that is coming their way. This is their moment. It is time, it is far past time to honor them at their own memorial in the celebration that surrounds this dedication.”
And today’s American troops are just as courageous and dedicated to duty, Davis said.
“I know the deep concerns we feel for a much younger generation of men and women in uniform,” said Davis. “We see young Americans the age of their grandchildren and their great grandchildren. They are looking at the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the cruelty of the enemy we face in these far-off lands. They see the dangers our American forces face in places like Haiti, Libya, Korea, they know that today’s troops are just as heroic as the fighting men and women of their own generation, just as courageous, just as patriotic, just as committed to the cause of the freedom. They worry about the future of these young soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines. For a time last year, there was a howling cry to support our troops. But that loud cry has died down to a low rumble. And it never did translate into anything like the real demand to give the troops decent benefits when they came home as disabled veterans. When we talk about supporting our troops, let’s make sure our nation’s leaders mean what they say. Empty words will not do when we’ve asked people to shed their blood to America.”
On behalf of DAV-DAVA Unit 62, Jeanette Plants expressed her appreciation to Davis for his support of the unit.
“He has been very good to the disabled veterans,” said Mrs. Plants. “When we didn’t have a place to meet, Bob Davis came through for us. He has cooperated with us in everything that we wanted to do. We appreciate it.
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