Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
Page 12
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Page 16
Page 17
Page 18
Page 19
Page 20
Page 21
Page 22
Page 23
Page 24
Page 25
Page 26
Page 27
Page 28
Page 29
Page 30
Page 31
Page 32
CrossRoadsHonoringNativeAmericanVeteransByMrs.CarrieRodmanAdjutantCrossRoadsTXCrossRoadsYoungMarinesofBigSpringTexashadthehonorofprovidingsomecommunityser-viceforthe10thAnnualPowWowonApril5thand6th.NotonlydidtheyhavethehonorofescortingourlocalNativeAmericanveter-ansbuttheyalsoaidedinpostingthecolorstobegintheceremony.TheNativeAmericanveteransdancersandtribeswerefromourlocalareaandalsofromAustinandMcAllenTexasandMes-caleroNewMexico.Ittrulywasanhonortoberecognizedforourhardworkfortheweekendandtocelebratethecultureheritageandspiritu-alityofNativeAmericans.OurYoungMarineshavebeenaskedtocontinuewiththeAnnualPowWowforfutureevents.Wewerehonoredtoparticipateandob-servedtheNativeAmericanlead-ersduringtheFlagSong.ThesongoriginatessfromtheperiodwhensomeNativeAmeri-cannationswouldhonortheea-glefeatherstaffsorleadersfromdifferentbandsofNativeAmeri-cannations.ThesacrednatureofthetreatiessignedwithsomegovernmentsmadeNativeAmericansdesiretohonortheU.S.aginsomemanner.TheFlagSongistheirStarSpangledBanner.Theper-formanceofthissongismeanttoturnthethoughtsandheartsofNativeAmericanstothefallenwarriorswhogavetheirlivesindefenseoftheUnitedStates.BySteveUretskyExecutiveOfcerMileHighCOOnMemorialDaytheMileHighYoungMarinesparticipatedintheremembranceceremoniesattheLittletonCOCemeteryandtheLittletonWorldWarIIMemorial.Eachceremonywasperformedandattendedbymanyveteransandtheirfamilies.SomewereVeter-ansofForeignWarsmemberssomewereAmericanLegionmembersandotherswerejusttheretocom-memoratethesacricesofourmanymilitarymenandwomenformorethan200years.AspeopleenteredandlefteachceremonyItooktheopportunitytosaythankyouforyourservicetoafewofthoseparticipatingandattending.Ididthatrandomlywhenitseemedappropriate.DuringtherstceremonyandthroughoutthedayIcouldnothelpbutthinkofsomebodyIneverthankedamanwhowasmyheromyDad.HefoughtinWorldWarIIandlostmostofhisleftleginNorthAfrica.GrowingupIneverreallyaskedhimaboutitandIdontrecallhimtellingstoriesaboutiteither.ItwasntcustomaryamongWorldWarIIveteranstodiscusscombatex-periences.Ihadneverthankedhimforhisservice.MyDadplayedsoftballwithusoccasionally.Webowledonthesameteamonesummer.AndhewasmyplayingpartnerthersttimeIshotan80ingolfanditwasntminiaturegolfeither.Inshortheneverlethisdisabilityaffectthefam-ily.HewasagreatDad.Ilearnedanawfullotfromhimandmisshimtothisdayhepassedawayin1986.Ihavetheagfromhisfuneral.Itisproudlydisplayedinourlivingroom.ThatsonewayIcon-tinuetohonorhim.IhopeIhavealsohonoredhimbythewayIvelivedmylifemostlyjusttryingtobeagoodpersonandtohelpothers.SomaybeIhavebeenthank-inghiminthatwayandyoucanbesureIlltrytocontinuetodoso.ButjustincaseIdliketotakethisopportunitytosaythanksDadforyourservice.Youvealwaysinspiredmeandyoualwayswill.IjusthopehecanhearmewhenIthankacurrentorformersoldierfortheirservicebecauseImreallysayingthankyoutohimtoo.RestinpeaceDadandsayhitoMomformetoo.AManWhoINeverThankedforHisService-MyDadByYMPFCNicholasPelzBuckleyFieldCOEverymonthveYoungMarinesfrommyunitgototheFortLoganCemeterytogivehonorstothepeoplethatdidnotgethonorswhentheywereburied.Thisisaveryimportanteventforourunitbecauseitallowsustogivethepeoplethatdiedforourcountrytherecognitionandthanksthattheydeserve.ThiseventalsoallowsustoshowthatwecareaboutthegreatprivilegethatwehavetoliveasfreeAmericans.IgoeverytimeIhavetheopportunityanditisaverymovingexperienceeverytime.IwillcontinuetodothiseventuntilIcandoitnolonger.Tohearthenamesofallthepeoplethathavediedserv-ingourcountrygivesusanenduringsenseofgratitude.BelatedHonorsattheFortLoganCemeteryPage14ESPRIT