Retired Air Force Col.James Avery salutes during the playing of “Wild Blue Yonder” at Abilene Christian University’s Veterans Day Tribute on Thursday. Veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were present.
Greg Kendall-Ball/Reporter-News Edward Pierson, a veteran of the United States Air Force, holds his hand over his heart while the Star-Spangled Banner is played at Abilene Christian University’s Veterans Day Tribute on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010.
Greg Kendall-Ball/Reporter-News Donald Vanhooser, who served in Rifle Company “L” of the 260th Infantry in Europe, salutes during the performance of the Star-Spangled Banner at Abilene Christian University’s Veterans Day Tribute on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010.
Greg Kendall-Ball/Reporter-News Elvin Mathis, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, salutes the crowd during the performance of “The Marine Hymn” at ACU’s Veterans Day Tribute on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010.
Greg Kendall-Ball/Reporter-News Dr. Sean Pullen leads the Grand Chorus during the Veterans Day Tribute at Abilene Christian University on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010.
Greg Kendall-Ball/Reporter-News J.E. Smith, a 1st Leiutenant who served as a B-24 pilot in the Army Air Corps during World War II, leads the invocation at Abilene Christian University’s Veterans Day Tribute on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010.
Edward Pierson, an Air Force veteran, stands at attention while “The Star-Spangled Banner” is played at Abilene Christian University’s Veterans Day Tribute on Thursday.
Flags were waving and patriotic music filled the air at Moody Coliseum on the Abilene Christian University campus Thursday morning as several thousand students and guests gathered to honor veterans.
The event was broadcast on the Internet to several hundred locations in other parts of the world.
This was the second year for veterans to have a place of honor on Veterans Day at ACU, and many men and women from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were present.
Several students who are veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as military personnel presently serving their country, were honored.
Tears flowed freely for many in the audience as former Lt. Mary Wofford, a WWII flight nurse in the Army Nurse Corps, told her story by video. Wofford, who now lives in Abilene, was seated on the front row.
“We were in shock when the Pearl Harbor attack from the Japanese came on Dec. 7, 1941,” she said. “I joined the military because it sounded like a glamorous thing to do.”
Although she did not serve in the war zone, Wofford saw the tragedy of war as she nursed wounded warriors as they were transported to different hospitals in the United State after leaving the battlefields of Europe or the Pacific.
War touched her life even more personally when her brother, Glenn, went down with the ‘Hornet’ during the war.
H.V. Chapman Jr., 89, was a naval fighter pilot in WWII, and the war ended just before he was assigned to fly a mission. However, Chapman survived a crash when his plane and another collided during night maneuvers over New Jersey.
“I have such good memories of the planes I flew and the people I knew,” he said.
William Jensen, 89, was a crew member of a B-29 and flew out of India during WWII.
“We landed in China and bombed Japan from there,” he said. “I feel honored to have served in the military.”
He said Veterans Day was special to him as he liked to see people honor those who served their country.
ACU student Courtney Price, 20, of Grand Prairie said her great-grandfather flew missions in WWII.
“I think it is great that we honor our veterans who have guarded our freedom,” she said. “I wouldn’t be sitting in chapel today if they had not served.”
James Avery, 68, is an Army veteran and has served in Vietnam and many other places during his 47 years of military service.
He is now the VFW junior vice commander and proudly wears his medals.
“This type service makes me proud to be an American and proud to be a veteran,” he said. “I do some teaching and I tell young people about the sacrifices that were made for them.”
“This is a wonderful tribute to our veterans,” ACU assistant to the president and former Navy Lt. Robert (Bob) Hunter said. “We are proud of the men and women who have served and are serving our country.”
The ACU Grand Chorus sang “A Tribute to the Armed Services” and veterans stood as their service song was sung.
Col. David Been, 7th Bomb Wing Commander at Dyess AFB, was asked to comment after the program.
“It is humbling,” he said. “It is such an honor to be honored along with all the men and women who have served. We have over a thousand men and women now who are deployed.”
See the tribute at: www.acu.edu/live.
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