MEMORIAL DAY 2019

Memorial Day, which commemorates fallen veterans, was observed by the planting of American Flags on the graves sites of veterans at Phillips Cemetery,  a breakfast hosted by the Knights of Columbus, and a Memorial Day Ceremony at the Triangle organized by the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.

On Saturday morning, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2933 and American Legion Post 290 hosted community volunteers and posted American Flags on the graves of veterans at Phillips Cemetery. Despite rainy conditions, a group of about 40 showed up to place the gravesite flags.

On Memorial Day morning, the St. Martin de Porres Knights of Columbus, Council 11695, hosted a breakfast for about 200 veterans, first responders, and their families, at the newly constructed St. Dymphna Center.  

“For me personally, I feel that this is the best event of the year that we do. We truly enjoy doing this,” Grand Knight Patrick Manning said. “In the Knights we have four pillars—unity, charity, fraternity, and patriotism—and this ties back directly to patriotism.”

Dripping Springs High School students helped in the breakfast with Walter Berthelsen and Jonah Davis of the DSHS ROTC Club giving the opening remarks to the ceremonial event, Josh Tomashek of the DSHS Choir singing the national anthem, and DSHS High School Band Trumpeters Johnny Dollard and Cameron Porter playing taps. Boy Scouts from Troop 280 performed the posting of the colors (U.S. Flag and Texas Flag).

The guest speaker for the breakfasts was U.S. Army Colonel (Ret.) Matthew Elledge. In his 26-year career, Elledge has commanded combat troops from the platoon level to the Brigade level. Elledge has also authored “The Buy In Theory,” which “provides principles for developing a high performance organization.” His decorations and qualification badges include: the Silver Star, the Distinguished Service Medal, Bronze Star (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters denoting additional awards), The Joint Service Medal, Combat infantry Badge with 1 star, Ranger Tab, and Parachutist Badge.

Elledge began his speech by asking audience members “What are you living for?”

“Memorial Day reminds us of what we are living for,” Elledge said. “Soldiers don’t put their lives on the line for strategic policies or political decisions. They put their lives on the line for their fellow soldiers. Most of the troops under my last command were age 22 or younger. Think about that. They are putting not only their present lives on the line, but the long life they could have in front of them. When they fought, they fought for each other, and they knew they were part of something greater than themselves… A veteran is a person who wrote a blank check to his country. Today we remember those whose check was cashed to the extreme sacrifice…The hardest duty I had was contacting young wives, parents, loved ones, and telling them their husband, son, daughter, wasn’t returning to them…So I ask you again, what do you live for? When we remember today the price that was paid for our freedom, our ability to pick and choose what we do with our days, we owe it to their memory to live the best life we can. I challenge you to find a reminder every day—for me its wearing my dog tags-- to live the best life you can… And to the veterans in this audience, I challenge you to continue your service to our country by seeking out leadership positions in our community. Less than one-percent of our nation will actually serve. That places you in the unique position. Share your values with your fellow citizens and lead them.”

The final event occurred at mid-day at the Triangle, which is also known as Veteran’s Park. Members of VFW Post 2933 and American Legion Post 290 placed a wreath at the Veterans Wall in the park, which has the names of deceased veterans inscribed on it, and struck a bell in remembrance of recently departed Dripping Springs Veterans. The bell was struck for the following deceased veterans: U.S. Army veteran Harold Philips, U.S. Air Force veteran Mark Kendzora, USMC veteran Billy Rippy, and U.S. Air Force veteran Donald Sethry. 

“The toll of the bell reminds us of the reverence we owe to our departed comrades and to those who guard the honor of our country here and on foreign soil,” American Legion member Ben Adair said during the bell ceremony. “Let it be a reminder of the faith they confide in us. Let us who gather here not forget our obligations and in silence breath a prayer for our absent comrades.”

After the bells were tolled, Darrell Anglen and Bill Cox played taps.