Veterans get towering welcome

Indian Head Navy base helps town celebrate

Friday, Nov. 13, 2009

By SARA POYNOR

Staff writer

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Indian Head Volunteer Fire Department member Jeff Williams stands on top of a ladder truck after helping to hang the American flag in front of the Indian Head Village Green Pavilion before the Veterans Day ceremony Wednesday. See story, Page A-10.

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Staff photos by EMILY BARNES

Louis L. Knight, a retired U.S. Air Force senior master sergeant and chaplain of the American Legion Post 233, salutes as the American flag is raised during the Veterans Day ceremony Wednesday at the Indian Head Village Green Pavilion.

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Darrin Watson, 16, a junior at Henry E. Lackey High School, plays "Taps" at the end of the ceremony.

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U.S. Navy Cmdr. Alan Phillips, executive officer of the Naval Surface Ware Center, Indian Head Division, escorts Mabel Painter, Vietnam War Gold Star Mother, to her seat after she received flowers during the ceremony

Folks in Indian Head didn't let a little rain spoil their Veterans Day festivities.

Although the ceremony was originally planned to take place at the Veterans War Memorial on the Village Green, it was moved inside the Village Green Pavilion due to the weather.

The Indian Head Volunteer Fire Department Tower 9 and Naval District Washington Tower 20 joined to form an arch with their ladders at the entrance to the Village Green. Within the arch hung the flag that draped the casket of Harry C. Davis, a 91-year-old World War II veteran who died in 2007 and requested that his flag be flown every Veterans Day. Davis was a 56-year honorary member of American Legion Post 233 and a 56-year life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1800.

During the ceremony, Indian Head officials honored the town's last living Vietnam War Gold Star Mother Mabel Painter.

American Gold Star Mothers started during World War I. Mothers of service personnel would place a service flag with a blue star in their window if their son or daughter was on active duty. If their child died while in the service, the mother became a Gold Star Mother.

Painter was escorted to the stage by U.S. Navy Cmdr. Alan Phillips, executive officer of the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division, where she received an arrangement of roses.

Of Wednesday's event, Painter said, "It makes me feel good to see everyone coming together to help our veterans. All of our veterans need our love and support, as do their families."

The guest speaker, Capt. Catie T. Hanft, U.S. Navy commander of Naval Support Activity South Potomac, which is the administrative commend for the Indian Head and Dahlgren, Va., Navy bases, suggested that people "honor veterans by imitating their courage, sacrifice and excellence," and remember not only those who survived, but also those who did not.

Retired U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Louis L. Knight delivered the invocation and benediction.

"It's an honor [to participate in today's ceremony]," he said. "It allowed me to continue to be part of who I am as an American and also reflect [on my days spent in Vietnam]."

Indian Head resident Warren Bowie, chief judge of the Charles County Orphans Court, used the day "to recognize and honor those who have served in military forces and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country." He added that he thought the turnout was fantastic considering the weather.

After the ceremony, guests were invited to stay and talk over lunch.

spoynor@somdnews.com

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