Veterans hear message of thanks, inspiration on their day

   Major Campbell, who served in the United States Air Force, and is a chaplain and the former pastor of the Peace Lutheran Church in Hillsboro, told veterans, VFW auxiliary and guests "The greatest of all will be the servants of all. Veterans understand this. Veterans understand discipline, too. Every veteran knows that without discipline, nothing works. Only the well disciplined know when the rules can and must be modified."

   The chaplain, who touched on all U.S. wars from the Revolutionary War to the present war in the Mideast, explained that supporting America's troops does not necessarily mean supporting war.

   "Veterans have earned our thanks," Campbell said, and he recalled the first time he was personally thanked for his service during the Vietnam War. "I had not realized that I had missed being thanked," he said.

   As American veterans are dying by the hundreds, if not thousands, each week, Campbell stressed the importance of thanking all veterans for their service and the role they play in ensuring our values of liberty, justice and the rule of law.

   "No party, no religion, no elite few dictate to us," he said.

   Campbell mixed in the a cappella singing of "Beneath the Cross of Jesus" with his Veterans Day message and read from "America the Beautiful."

   "To all veterans, 'thank you' will never be enough," Maj. Campbell said. "You gave all. God bless you. And God bless America."

   Other participants in this year's VFW Veterans Day ceremony included: Post Commander Rick Wilkin, who served as master of ceremonies; readings by VFW auxiliary members Linda Jennings and Sherry Mills; singing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "God Bless America" by Alberta Duncan; The Pledge of Allegiance, led by Jim Amick; an invocation and benediction by VFW Chaplain Gary Conley; the presentation of the POW-MIA table by Russ Roever; a 21-gun salute by the Highland County Honor Guard; and the posting of colors by the VFW Color Guard led by Vice Commander and Past Commander George Steward.

   Following the Veterans Day ceremony, Commander Rick Wilkin, Quartermaster Bob Curtis and Vice and Past Commander George Steward made a $1,200 check presentation to Hillsboro Police Chief Nick Thompson (see Page 2) for an upgrade of one of the department's radar units. A donation also was made by the VFW for the National Child Safety Council.