NEVER STOP REMEMBERING
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Worcester County Sheriff and Vietnam veteran, USMC, Reggie Mason |
Written by
Charlene Sharpe
Staff WriterOCEAN PINES -- Many braved November's brisk winds to honor those who served their country Friday at the Worcester County Veterans Memorial.
A crowd of close to 200 gathered at the memorial for its eighth annual Veterans Day tribute.
"It's a special day," said Worcester County Sheriff and Vietnam veteran Reggie Mason, the event's keynote speaker.
This year's tribute highlighted the sacrifice of those who served the United States in Vietnam. Mason told the audience in detail about the 20 months he spent there.
"This place, I thought many times, would be my resting place," he said, recalling the foxholes, trenches and atrocities of the war.
He told of how his mother had written him a letter every day, and had written notes to God praying for his safety most nights.
Mason, who served in the Marines, was a survivor of the Tet Offensive of Jan. 31, 1968.
"I prayed and I cried and I survived," he said.Marine Corps veteran Richard Tanner reminded those present that there were now more than 58,000 names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Washington, D.C. He added that 997 of those were soldiers who had died their first day in Vietnam.
"May we never forget their service and their sacrifice," said Tom Terry, president of the Ocean Pines Association board of directors.
The Delmarva Chorus performed a medley of songs from the Vietnam War era after which the crowd began an impromptu singing of "God Bless America."
Students from Berlin Intermediate School also offered renditions of patriotic songs.
The Rev. William Sterling of the Community Church of Ocean Pines offered closing thoughts.
"Pray for peace as if someone's life depended on it," he said, "because it does. Never stop remembering."
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