Fallen Soldiers Honored At Banquet

CANTON—Remembering the sacrifices of United States military personnel throughout history took on extra meaning Tuesday night in the Grand Lodge at Mill Creek Ranch Resort.

Laniece White of Fruitvale and Leslie Malone of Wills Point, both of whom lost their husbands in the line of duty in Iraq, stood in front of about 100 attendees for a special presentation.

For the first time, they saw their respective husbands’ faces depicted on designs for a special series of memorial coins to be issued.

The unveiling of the two coins, part of a series designed by Ronald "Red" Montgomery of Canton, was part of a Veterans’ Day banquet to benefit the Van Zandt County Veterans Memorial Plaza project,

"I’m just overwhelmed at the number of people who came out tonight," said White, whose husband Steven White died on Aug. 13, 2003. "I’m very thankful for the support they have given me the past few years."

Malone said the coins would be an outstanding tribute.

"I think it’s great. It gives people the faces to put with the names," she said.

"All of this is going to a good cause," Malone added about the planned memorial. "It means a lot to our family."

The banquet also featured the presentation of the first set of the bronze soldier statues — exact miniature replicas of the one that will be the centerpiece of the memorial site — to their respective buyers.

Henry Lewis of Canton was the first to purchase a statue. At the banquet, he praised the work and leadership of Montgomery, the memorial project coordinator, then gave his statue to the man credited with obtaining the site at the corner of State Highway 19 and 243.

Lewis recalled the failed effort of Joe Hackney in the 1960s to obtain that piece of land, despite getting in touch with the office of then-president Lyndon B. Johnson.

Noting that Montgomery was able to persuade the Texas Department of Transportation for the property, Lewis said, "Joe Hackney should’ve asked Red instead of LBJ. I doubt if anyone but Red could have secured that land."

"It is for you. It is a designated place for you to go and spend some time with those folks who never got to come home," Montgomery said after being handed the statue.

State Rep. Dan Flynn was the keynote speaker for the banquet. After talking about the history of the Veterans’ Day observance and holiday, Flynn spoke about the importance of honoring the men and women in the country’s armed services.

"Let’s remember why we are here tonight, to honor those who have protected us and some of whom have made the ultimate sacrifice. We must never forget the price of freedom is not free," Flynn said.

He also said the current economic problems in the country and worldwide could be overcome.

"Even though we have always had our ups and downs, the American people have always stood up and worked through any problems we have," Flynn said.

The banquet raised $6,358.97 for the memorial project, which is scheduled to break ground on March 1 next year.

Other bronze statue purchasers included the following: David Cline, Michael Baskin, Carter Clark, Ben M. Shirey II, Stephanie Mosby, Corey McFarlin, Daniel Felan, Dan Flynn, Jerry Don Daniel, Sylvia Perry, Maverick and Kimberly Easley, Don Hackney, Sarah Alvas, Rachel Alvas, Les and Jill Goodwin, David L. Higgins, Laniece White, Kenneth Durell Thompson, David and Janice Peel and Don R. Lantier.

White said she is looking forward to the day the memorial opens. Her two sons, Dustin and James, had a hand in the memorial’s design by sculpting the two canteens depicted on the soldier figure.

"It will be something special for my children and grandchildren to look at and remember. I hope the county will embrace it," she said.

Malone said she also anticipates taking her daughter, Reagan, to see the memorial.

"It will not only be a place to remember her dad but everyone else from Van Zandt County who served America as well," she said.