Memorial Day observed in Valley
BY JOHN BRICE
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
VALLEY — Local officials and members of the community gathered together for a Memorial Day Service at the community center in the Valley Sportsplex on Monday, May 25. Valley Mayor Leonard Riley welcomed the attendees on behalf of the city of Valley before the Rev. Randall Hamer gave the invocation, led a singing of the "National Anthem=" and then the Pledge of Allegiance. Following that, American Legion Post 67 Commander Judy Daughtry addressed the crowd.
"Memorial Day is a very important day," she said. "It is the day that we honor those who have gone before us. At one time, it was just for those who had served in a war and had lost their lives in that war. We have come to a point in our life where we have this thing called presumptive ailments. Those are ailments that are directly related to wars. Many veterans have ailments today from things that happened to them in Vietnam and the war in the Middle East. With that being said, that gives us a whole cabinet of people that we honor today, and we memorialize."
Daughtry then recognized two local residents who were veterans and members of Post 67 that recently passed away.
"We have two gentlemen in the Valley area who have recently passed away," Daughtry said. "They served their country with great valor. They served their city and, most of all, they served the veterans. I look out here today, and I see a lot of hats, a lot of men and women that I know served, and I thank you for that service. One of those men was Lanny Bledsoe."
Daughtry presented Bledsoe’s family with a certificate of appreciation to recognize and honor his advancement of the American Legion program and activities dedicated to God and country.
Bledsoe had previously been the commander of Post 67 until his passing last month. Family members of Sammy Newton were not in attendance, but will also be presented with a certificate of appreciation.
Guest speaker Arnold Leak, who served as a U.S. Army combat helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War, recognized the service of those who risked and lost their lives for the U.S.
"This is a special honor for me to be here today and participate in this service," he said. "I am especially thankful for my late friends Lanny Bledsoe and Sammy Newton, both of whom I have known pretty much all of my life. We grew up in the same area and believed in much of the same things. I can't tell you how much I cherish that relationship. I also thank Post 67 and the American Legion, the auxiliaries, they always come to the test and get a good crowd like we have today. I think that Lanny and Sammy would be proud of the turnout. This was almost not happening, and a few people got together."
Leak went on to share a special tribute to the memory of Lanny Bledsoe.
"Lanny had asked me to guest speak at this event shortly before he passed away," he said. "I didn't realize that Lanny was that sick. Lanny was a good friend of mine, and I had committed to it; I wanted to keep that commitment. I can't say enough about him and his leadership abilities. I do say that he was a true marine. As an army guy, I can say semper fi, always faithful. He always was."
District 5 Valley Council Member Kendall commemorated the day, a benediction by the Rev. Hamer, and finally the playing of taps by Valley High School award-winning trumpeter Brantley Jones completed the memorial ceremony.
