Veterans' memorial service scheduled in Mike Miller Park

American Legion
post no. 236 to
perform military
rites on Monday

By Mary Garrison
Tribune-Courier Reporter
mgarrison@tribunecourier.com

DRAFFENVILLE – It’s been said that the greatest honor one can give, is to lay down one’s life for the good of one’s country.

Marshall County is making it a point to honor those that have.

At 9:30 a.m. Monday, the annual Veterans’ Memorial Service will take place at Veterans’ Plaza in Mike Miller Park.

“We’ve got the Southeast Missouri Skydivers coming for the service,” said County Commissioner Jerry English, event coordinator. “They jump with a 50 by 50 American Flag.”

The parachute jump will begin at 9:20 a.m. and is scheduled to land at the beginning of the service.

English said Tom Vasseur, Commander of the American Legion Post No. 236 of Calvert City, will be administering military rites, and Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Shea Nickell will be singing the national anthem.

Guest speakers will include Ed Rendleman, who will lead the Pledge of Allegiance, George Culp, who will lead in prayer and Marshall County Judge Executive Mike Miller.

English said he’s making provisions in the event of rain, as well.

“In the nine or 10 years I’ve been doing this, last year was the first time we’ve had rain,” English said. “I’m going to be prepared this year.”

The Kentucky Barkley Lakes Board of Realtors in conjunction with Marshall County Fiscal Court will present a memorial wreath.

Two Marshall County soldiers, Bobby Holland and Roy Lee Edwards, were killed in the Beirut Bombing in 1983 and will be recognized, as well.

English said Edwards is laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

“It just blows my mind that of the 244 men killed in those barracks that day, two of them were from Marshall County,” English said. “Edwards had actually moved to Calloway County in his teenage years, but this was still his home, and we’ll honor him just the same.”