Guest speaker Kenny Greenlee talks to the crowd during the Sistersville Veterans Day service.

It was a beautiful fall day along the banks of the Ohio River as Sistersville VFW Post 6327 and American Legion Post 67 held the annual Veterans Day ceremony at Veterans Park on Riverside Drive. Marking the 11th hour, on the 11th day, in the 11th month, the traditional Veterans Day ceremony drew a large crowd of residents from all areas of the county to share their thanks and honor our nation’s Veterans. Not only did residents gather, but a northbound tug and coal barge saluted the gathering with a three-blast blow of its horn as it passed the veteran’s park at the opening of the ceremony. Herbie McEowen, Commander of American Legion Post 67, started the ceremony with a heartfelt welcome and introduction of Ack Morgan, who sang a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem.

The featured speaker of the ceremony was Sergeant Kenny Greenlee, retired Army Veteran, who recently moved to the area from Florida with his wife, Beverly Fiest Greenlee. Kenny spoke about the importance of honoring those men and women who made the commitment to serve their country while highlighting those that shipped out overseas. He also shared the sometimes-unimaginable numbers of men and women that made up our fighting forces from previous battles. From World War I where 4.8 million Veterans served, World War II with 16,000,000 Veterans, Korea having 6.8 million Veterans and Desert Storm saw 650,000 Veterans. Sergeant Greenlee added there are over 18.2 million Vets living today in the United states and all are deserving of our gratitude and highest respect.

Celebrated every November, Veterans Day pays tribute to all who have served in the U.S. military. The federal holiday is observed on November 11, the same day World War I ended in 1918. A year after the end of WWI, President Woodrow Wilson celebrated what was originally called Armistice Day for the first time. But it wasn’t until 1938 when Congress recognized it as an official federal holiday. Then in 1954, the holiday’s name was changed to Veterans Day to honor all veterans of the U.S Military. In France and elsewhere in Europe, November 11th is still known as Armistice Day.

The service concluded with a beautiful solo performed by Paul Guignet singing ” Some Gave All” and with the traditional Three-Volley Salute performed by the Honor Guard.

A community lunch was served at the Sistersville Elks Club and open to all Veterans and the public following the service.

Also on Veterans Day American Legion members Larry Dean Price, Herbie McEowen and Ed Camberlin paid a visit to Genesis to honor veterans Steve Neff and Carroll ” Skip” Anderson and presented them with flags and commemorative pins thanking them for their service to our country.