Honoring Veterans

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo., -- Staff Sgt. Kevin Monfreda, 509th Maintenance Squadron, places a flag on a Veteran's grave at Sunset Hill Cemetery in Warrensburg, Mo., May 28. Whiteman Airmen volunteered their time to help place flags at veteran's graves for Memorial Day to honor them. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jason Huddleston)

Honoring Veterans

Published June 1, 2010
By Airman 1st Class Cody H. Ramirez
509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- They were there to witness the Treaty of Versailles. They were there on D-Day. They were there in Desert Storm. They were guardians of our country ... they are U.S. military veterans.

Volunteers from the Whiteman community honored fallen veterans May 28 at Sunset Hill Cemetery here.

The volunteers placed flags at the veterans' graves in respect of their service.

Every year on Memorial Day weekend the American Legion Post 131, in conjunction with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 25-13, organizes volunteers to honor our veterans. They were surprised to have so many people step-up.

"I am overwhelmed with the amount of volunteers that came out to pay respects to veterans," said Bryan Lee, commander of the American Legion here.

Mr. Lee wasn't the only one impressed with the turn-out.

"It was refreshing to see a lot of our Whiteman members volunteering in respect to the veterans who paid the ultimate sacrifice while protecting our country," said Master Sgt. Keven E. Vaughan, 509th Maintenance Squadron, NCO in-charge of B-2 metals technology.

"Both my parents were in the Air Force and served during Vietnam," said Sergeant Vaughn. "It's my responsibility to take advantage of the day to pay my respects."