Light rain fell Monday on Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion Memorial Day ceremonies — just enough to dampen some seats, but not enough to dampen the spirit of those watching and taking part.
Speakers at both events told stories of the comrades, the civilians, the men and women that made their time in service a memorable one.
“On Memorial Day, we reflect on the price of freedom; not just in theory, or in memes,” ret. Col. Don “Bulldog” Taylor told the crowd assembled at the American Legion ceremony at Veterans Plaza, “but in flesh and blood, in memories, and in names etched into monuments, bricks and our hearts.
“We must remember them and their service,” Taylor said.
At the VFW ceremony at Boerne Cemetery, retired Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Guillermo Tejeda delivered a similar message.
“Today is not about the stories about those of us who are still here, it’s all about the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice,” said Tejada, who lost both legs in an IED incident in Afghanistan in November 2010.
(ABOVE) Veterans salute during the playing of Taps during American Legion Post 313’s Memorial Day ceremony Monday at Veterans Plaza.
(RIGHT) Marine Corps (ret.) Gunner Sgt. Guillermo Tejeda tells of some of the soldiers who didn’t make it home, during his Memorial Day speech at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 688 event Monday.
Star photo by Jeff B. Flinn Retired USMC Col. Anthony White, VFW Post 688 commander, introduced Tejada and told the crowd of his injuries sustained while on a patrol in order to identify possible landing zones to extract any casualties sustained in a particular area. “Once Tejada had identified the possible landing zone, the patrol began to head back to the Forward Operating Base. While returning back to base, Tejada was seriously injured by an improvised explosive device,” White shared.
The gunnery sergeant sustained very serious injuries including loss of both legs, a grade 3 concussion, a ruptured eardrum, major trauma below the waist area, and injuries to his left arm and hand. “We rarely think about ourselves when we are out there,” Tejada said. “We think about our comrades, to our left and to our right.”
“I almost paid that ultimate sacrifice but I did not,” he said. “Many of us who are still here struggle with the idea, ‘Why him, and not me?’” He recalled a close friend, David Owens, a 20-year-old who was shot in the chest during a gun battle in Baghdad. He died on the way to the hospital.
“It is important that we always remember them ... never stop telling their stories, never stop mentioning their names,” Tejada said. His own son, David, was named after Lance Cpl. Owens.
At Veterans Plaza, Taylor brought similar sentiment to American Legion Post 313 members and guests.
In 2006, he said, he had the solemn duty — “and the special privilege” — of commanding the busiest trauma hospital in Iraq.
“Every day,” he said, “we medics stood at the crossroads of life and death.”
“On this day, we honor the men and women who laid down their lives. Let us also remember what they lived for: service, sacrifice, connection, purpose that brotherhood/ sisterhood,” Taylor said.
He said he was witness to too many of those “final moments” that are part of a war.
“In the final moments of life, it is never medals or rank that matter,” he said. “It is the hand on the shoulder. It’s the hand held. It’s being present. It’s the care given.”
He said we can honor those who died in service to their country, by living our lives with intention.
“Let us run toward life, not away from it,” Taylor said. “We owe them more than thanks. We owe them a life that is lived with service, courage, compassion and purpose.”
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