On Veterans Day 2014, Major General H. Lloyd Wilkerson, USMC, spoke at the Veterans Day event at Friendly Center. Major General Wilkerson, born in Tennessee on Halloween in 1919, gave a poignant and articulate speech about the meaning of Veterans Day. The speech was of sufficient length to give a meaningful definition, yet short enough to keep the interest of the small crowd. Maj. Gen. Wilkerson, who served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, reminded us that "soldiers march to the beat of a gun serving a cause greater than themselves." Hopefully, someone got his fine speech on tape.
If you missed the Veterans Day event this year, mark your calendar for next November 11th. The Marine Corps holds this event every year, promptly at 8:00 am at the flagpole in Friendly Center. While the crowd is usually small, it is always intergenerational. How nice seeing people of all ages together and showing true appreciation for each other. One mom told her son, upon meeting Maj. Gen. Wilkerson, "this may be the only time you ever get to meet a major general." The Major General mentioned that his son achieved that rank, and the young boy smiled.... a great morning for Greensboro.
You can see it in the eyes. That essence of the serviceman, whatever branch they go into, never leaves them.
Posted by: William Kendall | Thursday, November 13, 2014 at 05:20 PM