Veterans upset at no organized Memorial Day service
By JIM EPPERSON News Herald Staff

The crowd sang the National Anthem a capelo as the American flag flapped behind the Kilgore Veterans Monument in the hot and muggy Memorial Day wind.

But no one played taps. There were no bag pipes. The mayor did not show. And to the participants that did show, said it not did feel official. The group that gathered at the Veteran's Monument on Harris Street to honor fallen soldiers were upset because they thought the city should have organized the event.

"There is no excuse for this, I hope it doesn't happen again." said Kenneth Gill, commander of American Legion Post 280 here in Kilgore. "I was so disappointed I didn't even show up."

However, B.J. Owens, the city's director of special services, said the city has never officially sponsored the event. He said the city has had volunteers help with the ceremony.

"We don't know if the tax payers really want us to sponsor these events," Owens said. "If we sponsor Memorial Day, then we will have to sponsor everything from Flag Day to Martin Luther King Day."

But somehow, the volunteer who did not work for the city and was organizing the event, could not get the ceremony together, Owens said.

"I hope for future years, we start planning something," Owens said. "I know I'll volunteer."

On Friday, Owens heard that the event was canceled. But 44 people still came to remember fallen soldiers and those veterans who served in the military because they did not know the event was canceled.

Sue Cockren, who attended the prompt-to service, said 15 veterans were recognized and the crowd sang the National Anthem without instruments. Then they prayed.

"It was heart-warming," she said. "There were a lot of people there."

But in the future, Owens said that he hopes the city can offer the use of its facilities to the American Legion and the VFW to organize the event.

"Using this year as an example, maybe it can be an organized event," Owens said.