Richmond, VA—The warmth of the
Sunday sun shone on the shoulders of heroes at a service honoring veterans at
the Virginia War Memorial.
George
Bland is among the proudest of veterans: the 89-year-old served six years in
the Navy. He was serving during the attack on Pearl Harbor
on December 7, 1941.
"We
are recognizing a lot of veterans that have passed as well as those that are
living, and I'm so glad to be a part of it," said Bland.
Bland
speaks of his gratitude on being alive to recount the harrowing attack over
seventy years ago, saying that "the Lord blessed me" during the war.
The
blend of young and old veterans was a remind that service reaches across all
generations, and connects us all.
General
Robert Blackman, retired from the Marine Corps, reiterated the sacrifice of
Virginia's veterans:
"The nation owes a great debt to its veterans whose service
to the nation spans every decade, every year, every day of our country's
existence. I'm no hero, the heroes are the men that lost their lives and died
in battle or missing in action." Gen. Blackman continued, "Through untold
courage and sacrifice, America's
veterans have secured the liberty which the founding fathers sought to
establish here in the new world."
When asked how an ordinary citizen can honor veterans on not
only this special day but any day, Navy veteran Bruce Dowd gave a simple
heartfelt answer:
"Come to the War
Memorial and show your support for the military and the people that were in it. Always remember, always remember…never forget."
Copyright 2012 by Young Broadcasting of Richmond
