In the News ... "'Heavy on our hearts': Lubbock remembers fallen heroes at Memorial Day services"

LAJ Photo by Mateo Rosiles

• “'Greater love has no one than this, to lay one's life down for their friends,' John 15:13”

By Mateo Rosiles, Reporter
• Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - The sound of Taps being played and a 21 gun salute could be heard on Memorial Day at the City of Lubbock Cemetery.

The Nancy Anderson Daughters of the American Revolution hosted the 19th annual Memorial Day Service honoring the fallen men and women who served in the U.S. armed forces.

The service at the city cemetery was one of several around Lubbock and the region Sunday and Monday, including the annual ceremony hosted at the same time Monday at Resthaven Funeral Home and Memorial Garden and Sunday evening's service at Second Baptist Church.

Regent Tammy Rosenbaum of the DAR presided over the event at the city cemetery, which included renditions of the National Anthem and God Bless America and a speech from retired U.S. Air Force Sgt. Carl Tepper, who recently won the Republican party primary runoff for Lubbock's Texas House 84 seat.

“This is the day (to) remember those people who did not make for various reasons,” said Tepper. “Their loss is heavy on our hearts.”

Flags of the different branches of the U.S. Armed Forces that is pulled by the Veterans of War M.C. group. In the middle is a statue honoring the veterans of war. Even though Memorial Day is about remembering the fallen, Tepper said it is a time to mourn with and connect with the family and friends they left behind.

“This is about taking a moment to remember and show respect to those families,” he said. “They're the ones who gave the ultimate sacrifice.”

When people think of soldiers making the ultimate sacrifice, Tepper said, people will usually think of men and women charging into a battle. However, he said, that's often not the case.

Often, men and women are lost in training exercises, he said, but that does not diminish the loss of the soldier or the grief of the family.

“Often than not, these are our best and brightest,” Tepper said. “If someone lost a family member in training, I promise you their loss is as great and as honorable as any action they had against the enemy, so please remember those people as well.”

He said it's not only the fallen soldiers, but also those who have or are currently serving in the armed forces, who understand and are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect the liberties of America ...

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