Generations Unite at VFW Post 1309 to Honor Veterans’ Service

By Kristen Meriwether, Publisher

Veterans and grateful residents packed the Dr. George M. Jones Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1309 in Smithville on Tuesday, uniting to honor those who’ve served our nation on Veterans Day.

“Veterans Day is more than a day of remembrance, it is a living tradition,” Stephen Barthelme, quartermaster for Post 1309, said during the ceremony. “It is a day that binds generations together with shared respect, gratitude and purpose.”

That generational respect was on full display, with students from Cedar Creek Middle School gifting red, white, and blue bracelets to each veteran, and the American Heritage Girls Troop Texas 2912 giving handwritten thank you notes.

Each bracelet contained 21 beads, including seven red beads for hardiness and valor, seven white beads to represent veterans' purity and innocence, and seven blue beads for vigilance, perseverance and justice.

Three National Junior Honor Society members from Cedar Creek Middle School gave the keynote speeches, with each sharing how grateful they are for the veterans' service.

“The truth is, we say this because words cannot express how grateful we are to have you people here today,” Autumn Bunker, eighth-grade student at Cedar Creek Middle School, said in her speech. “Words cannot express how brave we see you, how kind your heart is, and how strong you are, inside and out.”

Watch the full speeches, including a statewide-winning essay from Adrian, a local fifth grader, in the video below.

Barthelme also provided an update on VFW Post 1309, which serves Smithville and the surrounding rural communities. It is much more than just a place for veterans to gather and share a drink. They serve the community with service projects, donate to military organizations, and help honor local veterans through ceremonies, like Tuesday’s Veterans Day celebration.

Their hard work is paying off. For the seventh year in a row, Post 1309 has grown its membership by at least 102%. And for the second year in a row, the post achieved All-State and All-American status by adding additional service projects, celebrations, and scholarships. Less than 25% of VFW posts in Texas achieve All-State status.

“Thank you to all that have served, those who continue to serve, and those who will one day answer that call,” Barthelme said. “May we never forget the price of our liberty or fail to honor those who protect it.”