Latest news with #VietnamVeteransofAmerica
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘I remember him every Memorial Day' Vietnam veterans in Hamblen County remember those they served alongside
HAMBLEN COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) — At the Hamblen Memory Gardens and Mausoleums, there was a wreath laying ceremony and remembrance conducted by the Vietnam Veterans of America. Every year, Hamblen Memory Gardens hosts a Memorial Day service followed by a small community cookout. It's a tradition meant to honor those who sacrificed their tomorrow for our today. 'Memorial Day is for those who never took their uniform off' Knoxville veterans honor fallen service members 6 News spoke with veterans and residents remembering the servicemen and women who lost their lives while serving this country. People at the event shared what Memorial Day truly means to them. They also shared stories about the friends and family they are honoring. 'Growing up, I didn't realize the significance of it until I got older, and I started having some of my cousins, some of my older cousins going to Vietnam. And I think that's when I started really paying attention to what was going on. A lot of people, its over time, it's lost a lot of its meaning… kind of blends in. It definitely needs to be about those that paid the ultimate price for our freedoms here,' explained Rick Eldridge, the state representative for Granger and Hamblen Counties, who shared a few words at the event. Three adults, three children rescued after watercraft hit a tree on Pigeon River The service took place in the special veteran's portion of the garden where the Vietnam Veterans of America placed American flags beside each grave. For Vietnam veteran Marvin Gilliam, Memorial Day brings back powerful memories of those who served by his side. 'I remember a couple of guys that I went to high school with, we joined the Marine Corps close together, and two of us went to Vietnam together. One was one of my friends was in the infantry. We graduated from West Green High school up in Greenville, and he came home and he passed away later due to Agent Orange…and I remember him every Memorial Day,' said Gilliam. Eldridge shared he was honored to speak at the event and reminded those who gathered why taking time to reflect is so important. 'I know it's important to gather with your family and everything but, it's important to take a moment and say, I remember the families that have an empty spot at their table today. I think that's just a matter of respect and that's what we should do,' added Eldridge. East Tennessee soldiers, sailors and Marines killed while on active duty with the United States military Despite the rain, many people stayed to take a private moment to visit their loved ones who were laid to rest in the garden. Executive Director of the gardens, Pam Walker, shared with 6 News that they plan to continue to hold this ceremony for years to come and will always reserve spaces in the veterans garden for those who served. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
23-05-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Stray cats shouldn't be roaming Miami's neighborhoods, putting birds at risk
Too many cats Re: the May 22 Miami Herald front page story, 'Miami-Dade sets thousands of stray cats free. Should feeding them be legal?' Miami-Dade County released almost 18,000 cats back into the streets in the past year. Statistics have shown that cats kill about 2.5 billion birds annually in North America alone. Bird numbers are dropping and this is just one of the reasons. Cats are instinctive hunters. Just because people feed them doesn't mean they won't kill birds. Peacocks and iguanas are everywhere in the county now, but they're not killing other animals. There is absolutely no valid reason for feral cats to be roaming our neighborhoods killing what's left of our wildlife. Glenn Huberman, Miami Avoiding war Memorial Day is dedicated to honoring those in military service who gave their lives serving their country. New York was the first state to recognize the holiday in 1873. After World War l, the holiday was recognized for those who died in any war. The poem, 'In Flanders Fields,' brought forth the idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day. When Congress passed the National Holiday Act of 1971, Memorial Day (observed) moved to the last Monday in May. Wars are caused by ideologies for control, power and authority. The memory of the military as our protectors and also as family members and the countless civilians who are the victims of war are always in our thoughts. What must be done is to sit, discuss, debate, communicate, negotiate and mediate to avert war and harm. It can be done. Louis Cohen, Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 23, Tamarac Keys Memorial Day Take some time from your busy Memorial Day to honor and remember the sacrifices of our many 'Soldiers Killed In Action' during a ceremony in the auditorium of the Key Largo Murray Nelson Government Center at 11 a.m. on May 26. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. Plans include a performance by our Florida Keys Community Concert Band, flag presentation by the Daughters of the American Revolution, Scout Color Guard, inspirational videos and insightful veteran and civilian guest speakers. Immediately following the ceremony, free hot dogs, burgers, fries and discounted beverages will be provided at the VFW Post 10211's new and remodeled restaurant, 'The Armory Speakeasy,' directly adjacent to the Murray Nelson Government Center on the northbound side of U.S. 1. John Donnelly, Key Largo Upholding the law The Founding Fathers were revolutionaries. They started one, finished one and knew how to avoid another one. One way to avoid one is to not use the military to suppress dissent to enforce domestic law, which is a principal reason the founders rebelled against the British Crown. Police are monitored by courts, but armies aren't. Although the U.S. Constitution does not prohibit a standing army, it does limit funding one for more than two years. After abuses in suppressing dissent were seen during the Civil War, Congress passed the Posse Comitatus Act in 1878, which prohibits using the military to enforce domestic law. An exception to the Act's prohibition is that troops can guard military installations, where vital national defense information is kept. In an apparent attempt to get around the Act, President Trump transferred federal territory along the border with Mexico to the military and began using troops to seize illegal immigrants. Some of the hundreds of criminal trespass cases against those immigrants were thrown out by a federal judge, who concluded that claiming they trespassed on a military installation was a legal fiction and a violation of the Act. While preventing illegal immigration is a laudable goal, so is preventing the army from suppressing dissent, which is why the military is prohibited from domestic law enforcement and why the potential for that should not be permitted. Fortunately, once again, the courts are doing their job by upholding the rule of law and curbing yet another possible step toward dictatorship, however innocently it may be portrayed. R. Thomas Farrar, Miami Youngest voters More than 50 years ago, the 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted 18-year-old people the right to vote. It was at the height of the Vietnam War and the thinking was that if young people were old enough to fight — even against their will, as was the case with the draft — they were old enough to vote. Now it's time for a new Constitutional amendment guaranteeing the vote to anyone who has started menstruating. Because if you're old enough to bear children — even against your will, with draconian anti-abortion laws — you're old enough to vote. Katy Sorenson, Miami Jefferson's gaze There are sincere citizens among us who believe that our founding fathers meant for our nation to worship only one higher being: theirs. Instead, the founding fathers built a nation whose government would be truly neutral on the issue of 'best religion.' They enshrined it in our Constitution. President Thomas Jefferson championed freedom of religion his entire life. It is ironic that now his portrait hangs in Donald Trump's Oval Office. Jefferson often pointed to himself as someone whose religious views might differ from others, yet would be good for society. He said, 'Ask not of my religion. That is a matter between my God and me alone. If society finds that my life was just and moral, the religion that governed it cannot have been a bad one.' Today, everything that happens in the Oval Office is under the gaze of Jefferson. Maybe it will make those who populate the office a little more thoughtful. Maybe nervous? Anyway, it makes me feel good. Mac Melvin, Key Biscayne Disheartened No matter how hard they try, Republican lawmakers cannot escape their connection to President Donald Trump's efforts to purge the United States of as many immigrants as possible. While South Florida's Congressional representatives may claim to be 'deeply disappointed,' they cannot afford to step on constituents' toes due to their reliance on the Cuban, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan communities — the last of which were recently dealt a setback by the mostly conservative and Trump-influenced U.S. Supreme Court. These lawmakers will ultimately behave as 'yes' men and women. They are hesitant to speak out, fearing backlash from their leader and the MAGA faithful. As a Latino in Miami, I am truly baffled that the communities now facing persecution and deportation previously supported and voted for Trump and his fellow lawmakers. Those votes enabled the government to unleash ICE on immigrant families, mass deportations separating many loved ones, transfers to prisons in other countries, or returned to the places they fled to escape poverty, imprisonment, torture, or even death. These communities have seemingly turned against their own. The level of hypocrisy is astounding, but the shift to dystopia is fearful. Nestor Cedeno, Miami Medical advice If Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, feels that people shouldn't take medical advice from him, then he should step aside in favor of someone who is qualified and head the national health agency. Ted Burg, Pembroke Pines Rubio's troubles U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's parents and grandparents would be horrified that he's now in favor of eliminating Temporary Protective Status for Venezuelans and not defending Ukraine against democracy's archenemy, Russian President Vladimir Putin. I'm sorry to see him embrace our president and behaving more like a puppet. We were cheated. Shame on those who revoked TPS, a legal and democratic law. Jaime Edelstein, Pinecrest Border policies If former President Joe Biden had kept the border with Mexico legal, we would not have legal challenges today. Joy Pargman, Miami
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Armed Forces Day Parade tradition continues in Berks
The 77th Armed Forces Day Parade drew a big crowd on a sunny Saturday morning along Penn Avenue in Wyomissing and West Reading. Lennon Nice, 3, of West Reading watches the parade with a treat. (Lauren A. Little – Special to Reading Eagle)The Reading High School band plays during the 77th Berks County Armed Forces Day Parade in West Reading on Saturday. (Lauren A. Little – Special to Reading Eagle)The 77th Berks County Armed Forces Day Parade makes its way down Penn Avenue. Visible at center in yellow shirts are members of Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter #131. (Lauren A. Little – Special to Reading Eagle)The Wyomissing High School band plays during the 77th Berks County Armed Forces Day Parade. (Lauren A. Little – Special to Reading Eagle)Cohen Simpson, 5, of Sinking Spring, watches the parade. (Lauren A. Little – Special to Reading Eagle)
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Military and Veterans Appreciation Picnic returns
May 15—Will be May 31 at Harris Riverfront in Huntington Tri-State Chapter 949, Vietnam Veterans of America, West Virginia Marine Corps Coordinating Council and the Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District are planning their fourteenth annual Military and Veterans Appreciation Picnic for all military, veterans and their guests in the Tri-State area. The event will be 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. May 31 at Harris Riverfront Park in Huntington, West Virginia. There will be free food for military veterans and their guest, live music, door prizes, weapons display, military vehicles and equipment displays and demonstrations, classic and antique cars and good times for all. Anyone with a military collection (weapons, vehicles, uniforms, equipment, etc.) or classic cars that would like to display at this event, contact Ron Wroblewski at 740-446-1795. Menu includes BBQ sandwiches, hot dogs, BBQ chicken breast, fresh lettuce salad, potato salad baked beans, coleslaw, watermelon, water and sodas. You Might Like News Ironton Municipal Court hosts Lunch and Learn News South Point man arrested for having 710 grams of methamphetamine News Coal Grove dedicates Village Hall to McKnight News Annual Ironton crosswalk painting set for Sunday
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Military and Veterans Appreciation Picnic returns
May 15—Will be May 31 at Harris Riverfront in Huntington Tri-State Chapter 949, Vietnam Veterans of America, West Virginia Marine Corps Coordinating Council and the Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District are planning their fourteenth annual Military and Veterans Appreciation Picnic for all military, veterans and their guests in the Tri-State area. The event will be 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. May 31 at Harris Riverfront Park in Huntington, West Virginia. There will be free food for military veterans and their guest, live music, door prizes, weapons display, military vehicles and equipment displays and demonstrations, classic and antique cars and good times for all. Anyone with a military collection (weapons, vehicles, uniforms, equipment, etc.) or classic cars that would like to display at this event, contact Ron Wroblewski at 740-446-1795. Menu includes BBQ sandwiches, hot dogs, BBQ chicken breast, fresh lettuce salad, potato salad baked beans, coleslaw, watermelon, water and sodas. You Might Like News Ironton Municipal Court hosts Lunch and Learn News South Point man arrested for having 710 grams of methamphetamine News Coal Grove dedicates Village Hall to McKnight News Annual Ironton crosswalk painting set for Sunday
