Tue, Nov 24 2009
|
|
Published November 11, 2009 04:43 pm - ROCKY COMFORT, Mo. — When William Blevins got up Wednesday morning, he put on a T-shirt sporting the slogan “Freedom is not free” for Veterans Day. His 7-year-old grandson, Jason, questioned the phrase. In Jason’s mind, Blevins said, freedom was free. Speakers cite sacrifices made by military veterans w/ slide show By Emily Younker
eyounker@joplinglobe.com ROCKY COMFORT, Mo. — When William Blevins got up Wednesday morning, he put on a T-shirt sporting the slogan “Freedom is not free” for Veterans Day. His 7-year-old grandson, Jason, questioned the phrase. In Jason’s mind, Blevins said, freedom was free. “I had to explain to him about how people died to keep freedom free,” said Blevins, a Rocky Comfort resident who served in the Navy during the Vietnam War. “We had to fight these wars throughout the years to keep freedom free. He kind of understood it.” Blevins was among more than 20 veterans who were recognized individually at a Veterans Day ceremony Wednesday afternoon at Rocky Comfort Elementary School in McDonald County. Students, staff members, parents and residents attended to honor them and their service. Guest speakers Guest speakers were retired Gen. Terrence R. Dake of the Marine Corps and retired Lt. Col. Robert Brumley II, a 22-year veteran of the Air Force. Both graduated from McDonald County schools. Dake, a 34-year Marine Corps veteran who also was former President Ronald Reagan’s helicopter pilot from 1983 to 1985, said his overseas tours helped remind him of what he was protecting at home. “I’d come back to America, and I had an overwhelming feeling of what a great nation we are, how free we are,” Dake said. “I’m 65 years old, and I’ve never lived a day I wasn’t free.” 
![comment on this story](http://community.cnhi.com/eve/ubb.x?a=dl&f=55410432
&x_id=local_story_315164323.html&x_subject=<img+src="http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/images/zope/extra.gif"+border=0>Speakers+cite+sacrifices+made+by+military+veterans<font+color="#ff0000">+w/+slide+show+</font>+&x_link=http://www.joplinglobe.com/homepage/local_story_315164323.html)
•
Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
More from the Home section
Is choice coming to the ballot? Some Briarbrook residents want tax district to save golf course, country club |
Print this story
E-mail this story
Post to del.icio.us
 |
 |
: Special Offer For New Subscribers
:
 |
|||||||
|
|||||||
 |
|
|
Published by Newspaper Holding, Inc. 117 East Fourth Street, Joplin, MO 64801 Using our site is your agreement to the terms and conditions. News: news@joplinglobe.com • (417)623-3480 Advertise with the Joplin Globe Copyright © 2006 The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO All rights reserved. 
|
Popular Business directory links - Joplin Apartments | Joplin Attorneys | Joplin Auto Dealers | Joplin Auto Parts | Joplin Auto Repair | Joplin Beauty Salons | Joplin Car Rental | Joplin Dentists | Joplin Doctors | Joplin Flowers | Joplin Hotels | Joplin Insurance | Joplin Loans | Joplin Mortgages | Joplin Movers | Joplin Pizza | Joplin Realtors | Joplin Restaurants | Joplin Storage | Joplin Tax Preparation | Joplin Travel | Joplin Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service |
![Add a comment on this story](http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/zope/add_comment.php?section_id=homepage&story_id=local_story_315164323.html&headline=<img src="http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/images/zope/extra.gif" border=0>Speakers cite sacrifices made by military veterans<font color="#ff0000"> w/ slide show </font> &portal_url=http://www.joplinglobe.com&portal=joplinglobe){kind=link}