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Hundreds attend Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Commission’s November 11 observance

By: Sean K. Thompson
| Published 11/11/2022

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THE WOODLANDS, TX – The Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Commission presented its annual Veterans Day Observance on November 11. Several hundred community leaders, veterans, family members, and local residents came to Veterans Memorial Park just off Interstate 45 in Conroe to commemorate veterans past and present.

The Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Commission is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating, illuminating, and enriching our youth, families, and communities from this state and nation to the services, experiences, and sacrifices of our United States veterans and first responders.

The ceremony was emceed by Kelly McDonald and Thomas Turner and kicked off with a presentation of colors by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department Honor Guard. Kenzie Soape sang the National Anthem and MCVMC board member Rob Eissler, USN conducted the pledges of allegiance, punctuated by a cannon salute from the Lone Star Volunteers and Rolling Thunder. Fellow board member Pastor Anthony Shelton, Ph.D., performed the invocation.

County Judge Mark Keough was in attendance and thrilled at the turnout. “I think this is a statement about Montgomery County and our honor of our veterans, people who put their lives on the line and then said ‘freedom is more important than safety.’ And then they went and did it and protected us, and that’s what we’re honoring today.” he said.

Remarks about the importance of Veterans Day were given by Judge Jimmie C. Edwards, III, USMC, and chairman of the MCVMC. Two new recruits into the U.S. Army were sworn in. Before the keynote address given by General (Ret.) Mark A. Welsh III, USAF, and Dean of The Bush School of Government and Public Service, a veterans prayer was recited by Duke Coon and the dedication of THE LINE – a monument that features names of all U.S. military veterans who honorably served or active-duty service members – was led by board member Michael L. Durham, USN.

Curt Maddux, Conroe City Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem, was honored to be present. “It’s wonderful. Judge Edwards and his crew and staff do a fantastic job in putting this together. I’m just honored at being able to serve these veterans. My dad was a veteran. I’m just honored to be here.”

After Gen. Welsh’s speech, the Conroe Symphony Orchestra presented a special musical performance of patriotic music, conducted by Gary Liebst. The ceremony concluded with a benediction, more musical presentations, and a final cannon salute.

Congressman Kevin Brady was on hand to partake in the commemoration. “Veterans Day is a very special day, and there’s no better place to celebrate it than in Texas and Montgomery County. We love our veterans; we admire them and we respect them. And we know too that our obligation is to never forget their sacrifice, to take care of them when they get home, and to make sure that we are fully funding our military so the next generation can protect our freedom. This is a pretty big day.”

The commemoration is a benchmark annual event for MCVMC executive director Janeen McSwain. “Every day here we strive to honor our U.S. veterans. Today was a special day as the Conroe Symphony Orchestra helped us pay tribute to all those who have served. The weather was beautiful, the music was spectacular, General Welsh gave a moving speech, and most of all we respected those who took the oath to serve and protect our country. I am so proud to be a part of this honored mission. We gave all our thanks you to our veterans for their service, and to all who came out and helped us celebrate our veterans.”

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