One Flag at aTime

By U.S. Army Sgt. David EdgeNovember 9, 2014

One Flag at a Time
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
One Flag at a Time
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT POLK, La-- Spc. Matthew Corfman, Headquarters Company, 94th BSB, 4th BCT, 10th Mtn. Div. says a prayer as he places a flag at the headstone of a veteran that was laid to rest at the CENLA Veterans Cemetery on Nov. 7, 2014. (photo by U.S. Army Sg... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
One Flag at a Time
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One Flag at a Time
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT POLK, La-- More than 100 Soldiers from the 94th BSB, 4th BCT, 10th Mtn. Div. volunteered to place flags by the headstones of the veterans who were laid to rest at the CENLA Veterans Cemetery on Nov. 7, 2014. (photo by U.S. Army Sgt. David Edge, ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT POLK, La -Arthur Ash once said, "True Heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost."

On Nov. 11 every year America honors its veterans. There will be ceremonies, parades with flags waving, and moments of silence held all across the country to honor the men and women that served in this great nations military.

On Nov. 7, 2014 Soldiers from the 94th Brigade Support Battalion, 10th Mountain Division and the Central Louisiana Veterans Cemetery held a Flags in Ceremony to honor the men and women who served our nations military but are no longer with us.

"The service was beautiful. We come to the ceremony every year. It means a lot that the military continues to honor the memory of the service members past," said Tilli Walker. Her son William Walker Jr. was one of the first to be buried at the Central Louisiana Veterans Cemetery when it opened in 2011.

During the cool crisp morning, as the 94th Soldiers passed by each headstone they placed a small American flag to honor a debt that can never be repaid. It was not lost to any of the Soldiers, the ultimate price that some had paid to defend what that small American flag means.

"It is a honor as a service member to be able to honor those who have served before us and given the ultimate sacrifices for our great nation," said U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Eddie Camp, senior enlisted advisor, 94th BSB, 4th BCT, 10th Mtn. Div.

More than 100 Soldiers from the 94th BSB volunteered their time for a cause that they found to be worthy.

"I volunteered so that I could honor the veterans that paved the way before us and to remind myself to try and pave the way for future Soldiers," said Spc. Jessica Alvarez, Company C, 94th BSB, 4th BCT, 10th Mtn. Div. "I feel that it is very important for today's Soldiers to see who came before us because they played an important role in why we have the freedoms we enjoy today."

Some Soldiers view the ceremony as continuing America's legacy of taking care of its veterans.

"No country honors it's veteran the way America does. It's part of our tradition that is good and right that we never forget our fallen brothers and sisters sacrifices," said Cpt. Levi Hazlitt, commander, Headquarters Company, 94th BSB, 4th BCT, 10th Mtn. Div. "I think that it is very important for our current Soldiers that are still serving and sacrificing today to learn these traditions so that they can carry this legacy forward."

America has accepted the world's tired and poor, it's weak and worn, and then forged the huddled masses into a mighty nation. A nation that is willing to fight for the worlds tired and poor, and it's weak and worn. Thousands of service members have fought in wars past. One thing is for certain, as long as this nation has a need, our brave will answer.