A crowd gathered Saturday for the first Armed Forces Day ceremony at the Community Church at Tellico Village.
The event ahead of Memorial Day included patriotic exhibits set up outside the church sanctuary. Doug Douglass and Jim Rogers featured their own military memorabilia, while other exhibitors included Jim Jorgensen with Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12135, Mike Kitchens with Smoky Mountain Service Dogs, and Arliss Barber, representing the Village Quilters Guild.
Carolyn McDermott, an event coordinator with the church’s social committee, said members discussed ways to honor veterans as well as those serving on active duty.
“We have a lot of retired military here,” McDermott said. “... It’s an opportunity to thank them. We had exhibits at 1 (p.m.) and really didn’t know what to expect but so far, it’s going well.”
Retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. William “Bill” Butera read a poem, “It Is the Soldier,” and said he viewed Saturday as an opportunity to recognize those currently serving.
“It’s a day to especially recognize the service of people who have served four to five tours in a combat zone at a huge sacrifice,” Butera said. “We’ve never had a more dedicated group to recognize that service. Those who are serving is what I like to see recognized.“My son is serving active duty in the infantry, so I understand.”
Lou Robitaille, who served in the U.S. Air Force from 1972-78 as an air traffic controller and instructor, was named master of ceremonies.
McDermott said Robitaille “bleeds red, white and blue.”
“The reason I do what I do is because of guys like him,” Robitaille said, pointing to Ike Weaver, a U.S. Army veteran who sat in the front row with his service dog, Nitro. “... I was blessed with not having to go into combat. I just got back from Normandy three days ago. ... On June 6, 1944, think of how many guys died. I look at it that way. I feel a craving and a need to recognize the military.”
Chad Farley, who served in the U.S. Air Force before sustaining an injury, led the Pledge of Allegiance alongside Weaver.
“I was asked to come and lead the Pledge of Allegiance,” Farley said. “Mike Kitchens asked me to come. It’s definitely an honor for me.
“I’d give anything to be active duty today,” Farley added. “Just look around and see what all of these had to go through. It was a brotherhood back then. All of my medals and awards are shoved in the back of my closet because it doesn’t mean anything to me compared to what these guys had to go through. I would love to talk to them and hear each of their stories.”
Retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Fred Womack delivered the keynote address.
“Armed Forces Day is such a broad topic,” Womack said. “I would like to focus my comments on the Reserve because that’s where I spent a lot of my career. I know all of you veterans have a story to tell.
“To quote one of the generals, ‘When you call up the military, you call up America’,” Womack added. “One thing that has not changed is the respect and the regard for our military. They continue to be dedicated, and they continue to re-enlist. It is simply the love of country and the camaraderie they experience.”
After veterans were recognized by each branch of service, Barber and members from the Quilters Guild presented Butera, Womack and Mark Warren, a former U.S. Army major who played bagpipes during the ceremony, with Quilts of Valor. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Loudon County Veterans Honor Guard closed with a rifle volley and a rendition of “Taps.”
“It’s an honor to be part of this special service where the community shows the highest respect to those who deserve it,” Rep. Jimmy Matlock, R-Lenoir City, said Saturday. “Tellico Village Community Church shows tremendous leadership in always bringing attention to special events requiring a special time of recognition and reflection.”
