Story - The Meade County Messenger


Vol. 115 No. 21	May 21, 2008

Soldiers, heroes saluted during May 17 Armed Forces Day ceremonies

Photo by Larry See Jr.
Staff Sgt. Tony Rose makes a point during his talk at the May 17 Armed Forces Day program entitled “Hooray for Heroes.”

By LARRY SEE JR.
Messenger Staff

The shouts of “hoo-ah” greeted the capacity audience in the sanctuary of the Stithton Baptist Church numerous times May 17.

Retired Sgt. Maj. Tony Rose, an Elizabethtown resident and a survivor of the terrorist Pentagon attack on Sept. 11, 2001, started his speech by praising the dedicated and courageous service of the soldiers who filled the room.

Rose, a native of Gum Neck, N.C., in the Dismal Swamp area of that state, rose to the position of being a Department of the Army senior career counselor in the Pentagon, just prior to the terrorist attacks.

“I was raised with a deep, abiding love for the flag,” Rose said. “You need to love your flag and stand tall and be proud to be an American.”

Rose said the flag, which is fastened on the shoulder of every soldier, represents America in over 172 countries. “It definitely is a symbol of support to the world,” he said.

He said soldiers could live 40 days without food, 18 days without water, but they could only live five minutes without both. “The flag is a hope to the world,” he said. “When I signed up for the Army, the recruiter let me in because I wanted to jump out of airplanes.”

“I just love America,” he continued. “I had to defend the Constitution and the freedom of speech. I also love this flag, which could be a part of your family. I know we’ll not surrender because we love our country and what it stands for. We can’t let someone else run

interference on the flag and my country. We need to love our flag, be strong and stand by it.”

Rose has been in some countries where they haven’t flown the flag, telling those gathered they should be proud of what it is and represents.

Following the terrorist attacks, Rose is often asked about why he re-entered the Pentagon, which was nearly destroyed.

“The reason I did was because of the things I had learned in places I worshipped like here on my knees just like my parents and through my experiences in 4-H and the Boy Scouts,” Rose said.

Despite his head and legs aching and the fact he had to use the restroom, Rose entered the Pentagon, adding to this day he felt it was the right thing to do. He asked those in the crowd to continue to support America and the country.

Fort Knox Commander and Brig. Gen. Donald Campbell Jr. also spoke during the event, adding he was told by his predecessor this was one event he couldn’t miss.

“He shared with me what a great community you have outside the gates here,” Campbell said. “I can’t remember a time when I felt so happy to be such a part of a great community service. This is the best I have seen and I’ve been at a lot of other Army posts.”

In his remarks, Campbell said the recent Army enlistees have been disparaged in the press, but he said that was incorrect.

“The Army and the Air Force are better than ever,” he said. “We’re getting new soldiers who have chosen to serve us every day.”

He also encouraged those who haven’t had the opportunity to attend a basic training graduation, which occurs throughout the summer months on post.

“When you sign up to become a soldier you all have to attend basic training,” Campbell said. “No one will miss basic training when it is done, but the tears there are the pride they have felt afterwards. They are proud to be a soldier and serve their country.”

The event featured the presentation of one of the nation’s highest honors for a soldier, the soldier’s Medal of Honor to a Fort Knox drill sergeant. While in Texas, he and another soldier pulled off the side of a road during a torrential rainstorm and rescued a woman and her son from their car. If he hadn’t done so, Campbell said, the two might have eventually have perished or been swept away with the raging floodwaters.

Entertainment was provided by the 113th Army Band at Fort Knox, the Stephen Foster Singers from Bardstown and the musical group Family Legacy. Earlier, several community organizations had booths in the parking lot with giveaways, entertainment and lunch for the soldiers and families.

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