Page 8 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2020- Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS
always look forward to
welcoming Honor Flights from
I our area to Washington D.C.
My wife, Sally, my staff, and I
are lifted up by our veterans and
reminded of the honorable service
to our country by many Panhandle
citizens. I am especially glad to
be able to express gratitude to our
Vietnam veterans and give them
the proper “Welcome Home” that
too many never received after the
war.
Veterans from our area span
generations and many conflicts,
but each of them left the comfort of
our communities to serve a cause
greater than themselves. Every
8 Senior Link
A Letter from U.S. Rep.
Mac Thornberry
(TEXAS DISTRICT 13)
single veteran is worthy of We are also reminded that service
our gratitude and honor. comes in many forms. Darrell
And we have some truly Naylor (USA) was severely injured
remarkable Panhandle in Vietnam in 1967 and never fully
profiles in courage. regained consciousness after an
initial surgery. His parents, Opal
For example, this year and Dick Naylor, cared for their
marks the 75th anniversary son at home for 38 years and 9
of the attack on the USS months. I had the privilege of
Indianapolis. Cleatus Lebow knowing them and was able to
(USN) from Memphis, be with the Naylor family when
Texas, is one of the eight Darrell's name was added to the
surviving members of that Vietnam Wall.
attack on July 30, 1945. As
he describes hanging on Those currently serving in the
to a life raft and surviving military today are our veterans
five days at sea, his courage of tomorrow. It is my highest
continues to inspire. honor to work on their behalf as
a member of the House Armed
Lance Corporal Thomas E. Services Committee, where our job
Creek (USMC) was raised is to ensure that they have all of the
in Amarillo. While serving support, the best training, the most
in Vietnam, Creek’s squad modern equipment our nation can
was ambushed. He jumped provide.
on top of a grenade, taking
the full force of the blast All of us have a duty to remember
and saving the lives of his fellow our veterans and their service and
Marines. Creek was posthumously to continue to tell their stories
awarded the Medal of Honor for to future generations. I am very
his courage and sacrifice. It is grateful for the Texas Panhandle
fitting that our VA hospital bears War Memorial and its mission “to
his name. honor the men and women who
have given us our freedom and to
I think of other brave Gold Star keep history alive.”
Families who lost a loved one
in service to our country more As we remember and honor and
recently. The fallen include some give thanks for those who have
remarkable young people such protected our freedom, may we
as Captain Eric Das (USAF), First always strive to be worthy of their
Lieutenant Benjamin Britt (USA), sacrifice.
and Sergeant Cameron Meddock
(USA) – just some of the Panhandle
citizens who sacrificed everything
to protect us against the terrorist
threat.