BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
The numbers are small, but the commitment and service to others is huge.
That was the message delivered by Col. Gray Johnson, the Florida National Guard chief of staff, during a Veterans Day ceremony that was cut short by rain at Camp Blanding on Nov. 11.
“Currently, veterans make up just 6 percent of the U.S. population,” Johnson said. “I’m not a smart guy, but that means that just six out of 100 random U.S. citizens have ever put on the sacred cloth of the United States, which is the uniform of an armed service man or woman, and taken an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
“Only 6 percent of the U.S. population has ever voluntarily given up their freedoms in order to protect the freedoms of others. Only 6 percent of the U.S. population has ever been willing to sacrifice their lives so that another may live.”
As the rain increased in intensity, Johnson said, “Now, that concludes my speech because I can’t read it anymore. I appreciate you guys coming out today to honor our veterans. Amen.”
The 11 a.m. ceremony was just part of an annual event hosted by the Camp Blanding Museum. Visitors could enjoy historical displays as well as the usual offerings inside and outside the museum and enjoy a lunch that featured food at World War II-era prices.
Prior to Johnson’s speech, Betsy Condon, the chairman of the Clay County Commission, stepped to the podium and said, “We truly appreciate the incredible sacrifices our veterans and their families have made in the name of this great nation. On Veterans Day, we have a collective voice in saying thank you. We share a proud military heritage here in Clay County. We’re so thankful for the more than 25,000 veterans who call Clay County home, including my son, so I’m very proud of that, too.”
Condon said the county strives to “support our veterans and help them get the resources they need and the benefits they have earned.”
“Our Veterans Services officers are here today,” Condon said. “They will help assist veterans in making the most of their benefits, so please make sure you use this free resource.”
Condon read aloud a proclamation adopted by the commission at its Oct. 24 meeting and presented it afterward to Col. Jason Hunt, the Blanding commander. The proclamation included the words of President Dwight D. Eisenhower: “On this day, let us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly on the seas, in the air and on foreign shores to preserve our heritage of freedom, and let us consecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain.”
The proclamation stated that “we cannot fully repay our debt of gratitude to those heroic men and women who serve, were wounded or died in battle while defending our freedoms,” but “our veterans deserve to be honored for their courage, strength and dedication to serving the United States of America.” The proclamation closed with its support of the Camp Blanding Museum and its Veterans Day event.
Condon added, “I would just like to especially thank our two veterans who we work with every day: Capt. Howard Wanamaker, our county manager, and my fellow commissioner, Vice Chairman Capt. Jim Renninger.”
Christina Troope, U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean’s field representative for veterans affairs, was also present. She read Bean’s recent submission to the congressional record: “This Veterans Day, I am grateful for each and every one of our brave service members who heroically answered the call to defend the United States of America from our adversaries. We owe it to these men and women, some of whom made the ultimate sacrifice, to preserve their legacy.
“The Camp Blanding Museum, since its inception in 1990, has been doing an incredible job undertaking their responsibility. As the flagship training base for our Florida National Guard, Camp Blanding is a shining example of Northeast Florida’s excellence, offering a rich military history coupled with a tremendous museum and memorial. I could not be prouder to honor Camp Blanding on this Veterans Day.
“Veterans Day truly is special, but a mere day is nowhere near enough time to dedicate to our country’s heroes. We must remember and cherish our veterans every single day of the year, and coming to the Camp Blanding Museum and Memorial is an amazing start.”
When Johnson was introduced as the event’s keynote speaker, he began by saying, “I promise to be quick because we may get wet, but a little water never stopped a soldier from training. Hooah!”
He couldn’t resist adding, “Maybe the Air Force, but not the Army.”
Someone in the crowd yelled, “Not the Navy, baby!” Johnson replied, “You guys live on the water. You don’t mind getting wet.”
Johnson recounted the history of Veterans Day and made sure people understood the difference between it and Memorial Day.
“The intent of Memorial Day is to honor those who died in combat or as a result of wounds from combat,” he said. “Memorial Day ceremonies are to be solemn events and often take place in cemeteries and chapels.
“We need Memorial Day. We need to remember and honor our fallen heroes, but we also need to honor those heroes who are still alive today — our veterans.”
