Tuesday morning, the Sampson County Agri-Expo Center hosted the 27th annual Veterans Day program to recognize all of the area’s veterans and active military.
The event featured many renditions of gospel songs by local performers and speeches on the significance of veterans to Sampson County and the country as a whole. Many veterans of every significant conflict throughout the past few decades could be seen in their formal military attire.
“Every veteran is a thread in our nation’s history,” said Sampson County Board of Commissioners Chairman Allen McLamb. “From the beaches of Normandy to the Mountains of Afghanistan, each play a key role in our story.”
During the event, speakers and performers recognized everyone from those buried at Arlington National Cemetery, to prisoners of war that may finally be back home or still missing as a result of their conflict. To honor the latter, a brief segment was held after a rendition of “God Bless America,” in which an empty chair was placed at a table onstage. On the table was a closed bible, a lit candle and an empty plate — each to symbolize the missing veterans who may or may not return to their home that they once knew. However, despite this, their light burns bright with the hope that they may soon be found and returned.
Later, several representatives from each branch of the military from the Coast Guard to the Space Force, came onstage to proudly present their branch’s flag while that branch’s anthem played triumphantly in the background. As this tribute was made, veterans in the audience were asked to stand as their branch was honored to ensure that every veteran in the crowd got their moment to shine.
After a performance of “God Bless the USA,” Pastor Ray Ammonds of First Baptist Church in Clinton was asked to come up and pray over the crowd. During his prayer, Ammonds asked God to watch over the veterans as they continue with their days and lives. He also asked that they be given strength as they may continue to struggle with side effects of their service such as PTSD.
After the event, the audience was invited to partake in a lunch/reception. Here, both veterans and civilians dined together and shed light on what makes Veterans Day so special.
“It gives us the opportunity to reflect on our past, present and future,” said veteran Mac Maxwell. “Where else can you do something like this? As I look around, we all look different, but the one thing we all have in common are these hats and uniforms. They unite us.”
Maxwell’s thoughts were expanded upon by fellow veteran and friend Danny Jackson.
“It means having the freedom to do all that without the fear of being taken over by someone,” said Jackson
As the books closed on the 27th Annual Sampson County Veterans Day celebration, military music still swelled in the auditorium, filling everyone with a deeper appreciation for the men and women in uniform who fight on the front lines every day.