by Trish Rudder
The St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church Knights of Columbus No. 12191 honored veterans on Sunday, November 10.
Standing on the south side of East Fairfax Street with the Fairfax Green behind them, the Knights of Columbus members who participated were: West Virginia State Deputy Mike Stanger, spokesperson and Recorder Larry Landon; Curtis Perry, who provided a prayer; Geoff Fox who held the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wreath; Don Golik who held the World War II wreath and Council Grand Knight/District Deputy Pat Narango, who held the wreath for the Spanish/American War monument.
Landon, who is also a veteran, said the organization has been honoring veterans for the past three years on the Sunday before November 11, Veterans Day.
In his speech before the wreaths were placed in front of the monuments, Landon said “we are men of faith, and we are here today to pray for the lives and souls of those men and women who have served in the United States military.”
He recited a poem that hung on the wall near his office at the Pentagon, as follows:
“It is the Veteran, not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion; it is the Veteran, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press; it is the Veteran, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech; it is the Veteran, not the campus organizer who has given us freedom to assemble; it is the Veteran, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial; it is the Veteran, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote; it is the Veteran, with faith in God and Country, who has given us all our Freedoms!”
photo by Trish Rudder
