Corinth High School graduation photos — Page 16 Tuesday May 28,
2013
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Daily Corinthian Vol. 117, No. 126
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• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • One section
Corinth National Cemetery holds Sunday service BY BOBBY J. SMITH
13 local juniors take part in Boys State
bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
Capt. Kacey Reed, a veteran of America’s modern wars in the Middle East, presented the keynote speech for the Memorial Day service at Corinth National Cemetery on Sunday. Almost 100 people turned out for the Memorial Service, which was sponsored by American Legion Post 6. With almost a quarter-century of service behind him, Reed is a veteran of tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Reed’s speech included an emotional statement of thanks to the men who helped with the military burial ceremony for Reed’s grandfather, J.C. Marlar, a World War II veteran from the North Crossroads community in Tishomingo County who was laid to rest early this month. “I didn’t know, at the time, how to thank them enough for what they had done for me, my family, but more importantly, my grandfather,” said an emotional Reed, while fighting back tears. After being asked to speak at the Memorial Day service by American Legion Post 6 Commander Mark Houston, Reed realized his speaking would be a way to show gratitude for what Houston and the five other veterans had done for his grandfather. “I knew this would be my personal opportunity to tell every veteran here today how much I appreciate what they did for me,” Reed said. “Anytime I recognize a veteran, either by hat or lapel pin, I always take a few minutes to offer my gratefulness.” Reed punctuated his speech with quotes from a variety of Staff photos by Mark Boehler sources, including the Bible Captain Kasey Reed (above) gives an emotional keynote Memorial Day (“Greater love hath no man than speech Sunday afternoon at Corinth National Cemetery. this; that a man lay down his life day to remember the men and wom- to and including their life to defend for his friends.”), William Shakethe ideas and values on which our speare (“For he today that sheds his en who died while serving. “Memorial Day is also marked by great country was founded. Not evblood with me, shall be my brother.”) and John Wayne (“Courage is sacrifice, debts that have been paid eryone has the fortitude or courage being scared to death, and saddling with bloodshed and human life,” to accept such risks. But those here said Reed. “When a person raises today did.” up anyway.”). One main focus of the speech was their right hand, they’re obligating the definition of Memorial Day — a their life to a blank check, payable up Please see REED | 2
BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
Learning by doing. Some local young men are getting the opportunity to do just that as American Legion Boys State representatives. Thirteen high school juniors are taking part in the event which began Sunday and continues through Saturday at Mississippi State University. Gov. Phil Bryant and U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker headline a list of speakers on Wednesday “The American Legion is dedicated to strengthening America,” said Legion member Gary Briggs. “There is no better way to work with our nation's youth in order to prepare them for the tasks they face in the future than Boys State.” Through their week in Starkville, the young citizens, who must be a juniors in high school with one year remaining before graduation, will learn how city, county and state governments function by doing the job themselves. “Their time at Boys State gives them the chance to apply practical experience in government to their senior year in high school,” said the American Legion's Norm Lademan. The purpose of Boys State is to identify young leaders and instill in them constructive attitudes toward the American form of government. The non-partisan program attempts to show democracy needs an intelligent citizenry and a moral, honest and impartial administration responsive to the will of the people. Forty-nine states along with the District of Columbia conduct a program annually with more than 28,000 juniors participating in the workshops. Every delegate who takes part in the program will hold an elective office. Each city is made up of 30-35 delegates with mythical political parties called Nationalist, Federalist and Independents. Delegates learn such things as how to introduce and argue bills in their very own legislature. Cities compete against each other for the title of Best City. The winning city is determined by which town's mayor and aldermen develop the best project and how well they compete for legislative funding while other citizens of the city compete in sports and spirit competitions. During their time at Boys State, delegates will be able to ask questions of elected officials, have the opportunity to participate in mock trials, pass laws in a legislature, serve on a newspaper staff, compete in sports and perform in a talent show. “More importantly, they develop friendships that last a lifetime,” added Briggs.
Nearly 600 attend event at Shiloh National Military Park BY BOBBY J. SMITH bjsmith@dailycorinthian.com
Park Ranger Tom Parson provided the Memorial Day address to almost 600 spectators at the national cemetery in Shiloh National Military Park on Monday. Parson is a park ranger at the Corinth unit of Shiloh Park and a US Navy veteran of twenty years of service. He served on four different ships, traveled to 17 countries and his service spanned Desert Shield, Desert Storm and 11 years of the Cold War. The career Navy man told the history of his association with Shiloh, including his first visit 33 years ago as a young sailor on leave visiting his brother near Savannah and the start of his days with the Shiloh staff. He recalled telling his brother he couldn’t imagine a better job than to work at Shiloh. “Eventually the dream came true,” remembered Parson. “I retired from the Navy as a Chief Petty Officer in 1998 and a few months later jointed the staff at Shiloh National Military Park.” His first job at the park was in the maintenance division, riding a “beast of a lawn mower.” These early days, Parson
Staff photos by Mark Boehler
National Park Service Ranger Jim Minor speaks on Memorial Day near a Confederate burial trench at Shiloh National Military Park. said, brought him some of the most rewarding work he has experienced in 34 years of government service. “You see, I was the caretaker of this cemetery. I also cared for the five burial trenches of the Confederate soldiers out on the field of battle,” said Parson. “Speaking for myself,
National Park Service Ranger Tom Parson joins other veterans in placing a Memorial Day wreath at Shiloh National Military Park to honor victims of all wars. I can think of no higher honor than tending the graves of the American veterans who fell in battle, regardless of their loyalties or the color of their uniform. There are men and women from every one of our nation’s wars here, and many of their spouses and children
Index Local........3 Classified...... 13 Comics........ 8 State........ 5
Weather...... 10 Obituaries........ 6 Opinion........4 Sports...... 11
as well. To some, the assignment might have just been a typical 7 to 3:30 job of mowing and weed eating. To me it was, and is, a sacred trust.” The work has been uplifting as well as heartbreaking, Parson said. Over his time working in the cemetery he has
joined his coworkers in setting out the little flags next to each tombstone and proudly honoring the area’s veterans in services like the Memorial Day programs. He has also been in the cemetery when it was a Please see SHILOH | 2
On this day in history 150 years ago The 54th Massachusetts Infantry, the first negro regiment raised in the north, parades through Boston. Among the honor guard observing is the California Hundred or Company A, 2nd Massachusetts Cavalry, the first organized group of Californians to travel east during the war.