Good morning!
Distinguished guests, veterans, and ladies and gentleman.
My name is Steve Lawrence and I am the Mayor of Jasper. I am also a veteran. I come from a family of veterans My father was a decorated combat veteran of wwII. My brother served 2 tours in Viet Nam. Like so many of you here today, we were proud to be Americans and proud to serve our country.
Today is veteran’s day. We celebrate this annually as a day of remembrance honoring all those who have served in the United States armed forces, both past and present.
How many of you veterans here today represent the United States Marine Corps? Yesterday was your 248th Birthday. Happy Birthday you magnificent warriors. Let’s give the Marines a hand of celebration!
For those who have not served, your presence here today honors every one of us who served and we are ever grateful for your recognition and support of our veterans.
To those of you here today who took this oath and said, “I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against All enemies foreign and domestic, and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same” So help me God!
It is to you, that I speak today.
Todays holiday marks the anniversary of the 1918 signing of the Armistice. This event marked the end of fighting on the Western Front in the First World War. That signing took place at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
Ronald Regan said, “We remember those who were called upon to give all a person can give, and we remember those who were prepared to make that sacrifice if it were demanded of them in the line of duty. Most of all, we remember the devotion and gallantry with which all of them ennobled their nation as they became champions of a noble cause.
Today, I want to tell you about a decorated Pickens County Veteran and a man that I called a friend.
He was born July 31, 1949.
He served in the Army from 1967 until 1969.
From May 20, 1968 until January 20, 1969 he served in Saigon and Pleiku, Viet Nam.
During that time, he earned the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement in ground operations against hostile forces.
His name was Jerel Cantrell and a few years later, we became next door neighbors.
Jerel passed away on May 15, 2002 of lung cancer complications. He was 52 years old.
Jerel died at a young age and, before cancer, was one of the strongest men I have ever known.
Here’s what the 1991 Agent Orange act states, “Veterans who served anywhere in Viet Nam between January, 1962 and May, 1975, are presumed to be exposed to herbicides.” I leave you to draw your own conclusions.
Jerel’s father was a sheriff of our county. Jerel became a Hero to our people.
Jerel Cantrell was one of us, a veteran,
And, in my heart and mind, I see every Veteran here to day as Americas Hero’s.
In his Gettysburg address, Abraham Lincoln said, “The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated this ground far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here”
Nothing I can say or do will add to nor detract from what Jerel Cantrell did or the man that he was.
What I can do is remember him.
Just like every person assembled here today can remember your friends, your brothers in arms, both living and dead. And that’s how and why we celebrate Veterans Day!
As I close, I want to say that this will be my final speech as your Mayor. Although Cancer has prevented me from serving another term, it has been my great honor to serve you!
And to have the opportunity to give my final speech to a group of local veterans that I know, that I trust and that I love is all together both fitting and proper!
May God bless you All and May God bless these United States.
Thank You!