“We call them wives, but they are really our lives,” he said. Also pictured in foreground are (l-r) Clay County Commissioner Betsy Condon, AMVETS Post 86 Chaplain Billy Hall and Army Lt. Col. Mark Alexander (retired).
BY DAN HILDEBRAN
Monitor Editor
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— A retired U.S. Army Lt. Colonel told a Lake Region gathering that he loved his time in the Army, and wishes he was still serving.
Mark Alexander said during a Veterans Day service at the Keystone Heights Cemetery that he knew he was destined for military service while accompanying his father to a brigade reunion at Ft. Benning, Ga.
“I got to witness for the first time the aircraft,” he recalled. “They put on an awesome demonstration, as well as the Golden Knights (the Army’s demonstration and competition parachute team).”
“Right then and there, I was hooked,” he said.
Alexander said he served in the Army for 27-and-a-half years. He added that if it were not for health issues, he would still be serving today.
He said one of the things he appreciated about the Army the most was being part of an all-pro team.
“My brothers and sisters were the best the world had to offer,” he said of his comrades. “I enjoyed my service with each and every one of them, regardless of age, regardless of sex, regardless of religion or ethnic background.”
Alexander said family support was essential during his career in the Army. He said coming home after a deployment or training assignment were some of the highlights of his time in the military.
That was a theme echoed by Betty Kendrick, commander of American Legion Post 202.
“I can tell you from experience that had I not had my family and a couple of really close friends, I would not have had a career in the Air Force, I would not have been able to stay in for 26 years,” she said.
Kendrick said military families deserve a day of recognition for the sacrifices they made for their country.
She also said Vietnam veterans deserve special recognition in light of the abuse they took from Americans after returning home from the south Asian conflict.
She said her brother served two tours of duty with the Marines during the war.
“I had a veteran say to me one day: ‘You know, I get so tired of people saying thank you for your service. Every time I go somewhere, somebody says that to me.’” Kendrick said recalling the conversation. “What I said to him was: ‘Well, thank God you’re not a Vietnam veteran or you would realize how much those words mean to veterans today. Vietnam veterans were not treated as well as we are, so all veterans deserve a big thanks.’”
AMVETS Post 86 Commander Bob Beinlich also emphasized family connections during his remarks.
Beinlich told the crowd that his father and one uncle served in the Korean War, and another uncle served during the Vietnam War.
‘I wasn’t big enough to carry an army pack, and I didn’t want to jump out of an airplane,” he said, “so I did my service in submarines.”
Beinlich added that he served 12 years in the Navy and another 26 years at the V.A. hospital in Gainesville.
Beinlich also thanked military wives for their sacrifices.
“We call them wives, but they are really our lives,” he said.
Keystone Heights Mayor Karen Lake reminded the audience that over 300 veterans are buried at the city’s cemetery.
She said it is important for all Americans to listen to Veterans’ stories and to appreciate their experiences.
