The History Behind Veterans Day
By Hannah Shackelford
Parades. Flags. An extra day off work. Perhaps a visit to a semi-distant relative who was/is in the Armed Forces. Maybe even a trip to a cemetery to refresh the flowers left over from Memorial Day. Here in America, we’ve all celebrated Veterans Day in some form or another. Even if we didn’t grow up in a home whose members were an active part of the military, we all have experienced the parades and the accolades that are intrinsically a part of what we know as Veterans Day. But it wasn’t always the same holiday we’ve come to associate with three-day weekends and cooler weather.
Originally known as Armistice Day, it was first instated in 1919, one year after the armistice with Germany went into effect and WWI was ended. On November 11th, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson spoke to the people, expressing what he believed the recent victory to mean to the United States, and his “…solemn pride in the heroism of those who died… … both because of the thing from which it has freed us [and] because of the opportunity it has given [America] to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of nations.”
In 1926 the U.S. Congress adopted a resolution requesting that President Coolidge issue annual proclamations calling for November 11th to be observed with the appropriate ceremonies. It wasn’t until May of 1938 that a Congressional Act finally approved November 11th as a legal holiday, meant to honor those who had died for their country in the Great War.
In 1945, Raymond Weeks, a WWII veteran from Birmingham, Alabama, had the idea to use Armistice Day to celebrate all veterans; living and dead, past and present. He led a delegation to Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, who was supportive of his idea. The first national celebration of all Veterans was held in Alabama in 1947. A bill was signed in 1954 that legally changed the name of the holiday to Veterans Day, eight and a half years after the first celebration held by Weeks.
Sulphur Springs is celebrated this year’s Veterans Day with multiple events, including a ceremony held
at 11:00 on Celebration Plaza, honoring local veterans and their families. The ceremony was open to the
community. A parade took place, starting at the Civic Center at 9am and moving through the
Square. A BBQ was held at the Civic Center as well, put on by local non-profit Operation Victor Echo
Tango.
KSST wants to thank all the veterans for their service, as we take time to remember and appreciate all of those who have sacrificed much to defend our freedom.
Wildcat Basketball Opens Season with Win Over Class 5A #23 Arlington Bowie
The Wildcats’ basketball team opened the season in spectacular fashion Saturday afternoon with a 66-58 win over Arlington Bowie, the #23 ranked team in Class 6A according to the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches poll. The game was a part of the Cowtown Showdown in North Crowley.
The Wildcats, 1-0 for the season, play next at Rockwall Heath Tuesday night at 8 p.m.
Lady Cats Begin Basketball Season with 73-46 Win on the Road
The Lady Cats’ basketball team used a pair of long scoring runs to open the season with a 73-46 road win over a scrappy Emory Rains team Saturday afternoon.
The Lady Cats opened the game with a17 point run. Then they struggled as Emory Rains cut into the lead. The Lady Cats led 20-10 after the first quarter. Rains outscored the Lady Cats 17-6 in the second quarter and actually took a 27-26 halftime lead. Rain also scored to first four points in the third quarter and led 31-26. The Lady Cats then answered with 15 straight points to go up 41-31. The Lady Cats doubled their score in the third quarter to lead Rains 52-33. The Lady Cats continued to pull away outscoring the home team, 21-13, in the fourth quarter.
Quick point guard Sadavia Porter led the Lady Cats with 27 points including 3 three-pointers. Kaylee Jefferson poured in 26 points including 13 free throws and a three-pointer. Autumn Tanton scored 10 points. Te’Arria Rose had 7 points including a three. Laila King also banked in a three for three points.
The Lady Cats are 1-0 for the season. They play next at North Lamar Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
Hopkins County Health Foundation Fly Your Flag Bidding Is November 14, 2017 on KSST
Want your school flag to fly at the Courthouse November 21-27? The annual Alma-Mater Flag bidding war between alumni of colleges and universities known as “Fly Your Flag” is set for Tuesday, November 14th from 7 a.m. until 10 a.m. on KSST Radio, Suddenlink Cable Channel 18, and ksstradio.com (updated posts will be shared on the KSST Facebook page). Only the alumni of the winning school must pay and proceeds benefit the Hopkins County Health Care Foundation 2017-2018 Lights of Life Campaign.
PJC-Sulphur Springs Fall Honor Society Induction
HONOR SOCIETY MEMBERS The Beta Zeta chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the two-year college honor society at Paris Junior College, held fall induction ceremonies at the PJC-Sulphur Springs Center campus this week. To be eligible for membership, students must have a grade point average of 3.5. New PTK members are Parker Cummings, center, and Rebecca Harman (to his right). Not pictured is new member Brenna Murray. Helping conduct the service were, from left, Advisor Trina Lubbe, PTK Vice President Anna Jones, and at right, Advisor Melissa Arnold.
Wildcats Face Lucas Lovejoy in Bi-district Playoff Game Following Win in Hallsville
The Wildcats will face Lucas Lovejoy in a bi-district playoff game Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at Gerald Prim Stadium.
The Wildcats’ football team took a 19-7 road district win at Hallsville Friday night to earn a playoff spot. The Wildcats’ defense bottled up Hallsville coming within five minutes of a shutout. Meanwhile the Wildcats’ offense chipped in two first half field goals and two second half touchdowns.
The Wildcats defense forced six turnovers, four interceptions and two fumbles. Cornerback Terrell Turman picked off two passes and safety D.J. Abron and safety Jase Thompson intercepted one apiece. Landry Tyson recovered a muffed kickoff by Hallsville and defensive end Calvin Eckert recovered a Bobcat fumble.
Hallsville finally got on the scoreboard on a 67-yard TD run after the Wildcats had built a 19-0 lead. Kicker Angel Tavera kicked two first half field goals to give the Wildcats a 6-0 halftime lead. Back Searn Rodgers scored a touchdown in the third and the fourth quarters to pad the Wildcats’ lead.
With a Greenville loss at home to Mount Pleasant, the Wildcats ended up tied with Pine Tree for the district’s top small school playoff spot. Pine Tree earns the #1 small school playoff seed since they defeated the Wildcats head to head. The Wildcats end the regular season with a 5-5 record. They were 3-3 in district play.
Veterans Day Assembly at Sulphur Springs High School
By Savannah Owens
On Friday November 10th, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm Sulphur Springs High School hosted an assembly to honor the veterans from our community. Josh Williams, assistant superintendent for SSISD, took time to honor each branch of service men and women from the: U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines, U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as the spouses of the veterans.
Jaci Reed beautifully sang the National Anthem, Alexis Lopez led the congregation in the American Pledge, and Elizabeth Cole paid tribute to each branch by singing the service songs with the accompaniment of the SSHS Band.
SMSGT Gene White hosted the service candle lighting ceremony, and did a wonderful and respectful job of sharing the backstory for each of the servicemen recognized in the ceremony.
- For the Army: TSGT Raymond Duck, accompanied by his grandson, SSHS Freshman, Landry Meskimen.
- For the Marines: CPL Camilo Perez
- For the Navy: ARM3C Joseph Moore, accompanied by his daughter, Deborah.
- For the Air Force: SGT Truman B. Therwhanger, accompanied by his granddaughter, SSHS Sophomore, Abbi Therwhanger.
- For the Coast Guard: SN Dennis Morris
- Representing the families of those Killed in Action: PVT Andrew Troy Tanton, a two time winner of the purple heart medal, and represented by his granddaughter, SSHS Senior, Autumn Tanton.
SMSGT White respectfully concluded the ceremony with this thought “All veterans gave some…but some veterans gave all.”
USMC Andy Breaux began the MIA and POW remembrance ceremony by listing off the following MIA statistics:
- 73,025-WWII
- 7,730-Korean War
- 1,604-Vietnam War
- 126-Cold War
- 5-Current Conflicts
Then with the help of the SSHS Color Guard, USMC Breaux explained a symbolic MIA/POW table setting for all of the American heroes who have given their lives for our freedom and thus unable to be in attendance today.
The white cloth was a symbol of purity for their response to serve their country. The Black cloth represented sorrow. The lemon on the bread plate symbolized their bitter fate. The table was small to represent the frailty of one prisoner alone against his or her oppressors. The salt on the bread plate symbolized the tears from the families. An inverted glass reminds us that the service men and women are unable to toast or celebrate today. The chair is empty representing all of the Military branches who have those unable to attend. The white candle represented the hope for peace. A single rose in a vase is for the families and loved ones. The red ribbon around the vase represents the love of our country which inspired them to serve.
USMC Breaux thoughtfully ended the MIA/POW remembrance ceremony by saying “We remember those who paid the ultimate price.”
Jim Dial played “Amazing Grace” on the Bagpipes, followed by Darren Gray who sang “God Bless the USA”. The Crowd cheered and stood to support, thank and remember all of the veterans.
Veteran Clayton McGraw performed the benediction. He prayed over the veterans, their families, the MIA/POW, as well as the community and the SSHS students. Veteran McGraw even thanked the audience by saying “we know the time we gave to serve was not in vain, as we see [the students] studying [enjoying and participating in school].”
Fundraiser To Be Held For New Senior Citizens Center
On Saturday, December 9th at 7:00 PM the Reilly Springs Jamboree will hold the December Jamboree at the Senior Citizens Center as a fundraiser for a new Senior Citizens Building. The cost will be $10.00 a person, as well as an optional donation. We are hoping to raise a lot of money with live music as well as a dance floor for all to enjoy. Bring a friend, and come hear some great music and help us raise funds for a new Senior Citizens Center at this exciting event!
A complete list of the bands and musicians present at the event will be posted as soon as it becomes available.
The Senior Citizens Center is located at 150 Martin Luther King Blvd Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482.
NETBIO Anniversary Sale Wednesday
The Northeast Texas Beef Improvement Organization (NETBIO) is nearing the completion of its 19th year of operation and preparations are underway for its anniversary Pre-conditioned Calf and Yearling Sale to be held on Wednesday, Nov. 15.
The sale will be held at the Sulphur Springs Livestock Commission where the NETBIO sales have all been held since the very first one in November of 1998. More than 8,000 head of cattle have been consigned for the sale and auctioneer Joe Don Pogue will begin selling cattle at 1 p.m.
To launch this anniversary sale, there will be a free barbecue lunch for sellers, buyers, their families, friends and NETBIO supporters.
“We want everyone to come early and enjoy the lunch, visit and look over the cattle before the sale begins,” said David Fowler. Serving will begin around 11:30 p.m.
Helping keep the NETBIO organization and the largest pre-conditioned cattle sale in Texas going for 18 years are the producer board members and the agribusiness board members. On the producer board are Brian Cummins of Canton, president; Henry Potts of Emory, Doug Blackard of Cookville, Steve Chaney of Kaufman, David Zahn of Sulphur Springs, Rodney Lennon of Point, Ben Lamborn of Sulphur Bluff, Mike Thompson of Mt. Pleasant, Lynn Melton of Grand Saline, Ben Shumate of Cookville, and new members Grant Sadler of Alba and Greg Spigener of Mt. Pleasant.
Agribusiness board members are Dwyatt Bell, CEO; Mario Villarino, Joe Don Pogue, David Fowler, Marchall “Bo” Dunlap, David Black, DVM; Kevin Gray, DVM and Chris McClure. The Academic board member is Douglas Eborn, PhD of A&M-Commerce.
Due to the increased demand by cattle producers, the Northeast Texas Beef Improvement Organization added a special pre-conditioned calf and yearling sale to its November schedule — to be held on Wednesday, November 29.
Call the Sulphur Springs Livestock Commission at 903-885-2455 for consignment and sale information.
