Click here to see: Picture Album of the Event courtesy of Art Cook
The Bobcats were invited to attend the dedication of the Collin County Veteran’s Memorial over the Veteran’s day weekend. We had 12 people attend plus several of the wives.
Friday, November 11, we assembled at the hotel in McKinney and went to see the memorial. There was a small ceremony that night at the site. They had all present assemble in front of the Memorial and we were entertained with some wonderful songs sung by the soloists from the McKinney North High School choir. After a few words, we were read the entire list of the 345 names on the memorial. These names cover all those lost in the wars starting at World War I to the present. That day we ate at the local Boston’s restaurant near our hotel. It was good to see so many of the Bobcats together again. We had a pleasant evening over current updates and war stories.
On Saturday, November 12, we were taken by a special bus from our hotel to the Memorial for the main ceremony. Before the ceremony, we met Wes Carey, a chaplain friend of John Snodgrass.
The entire McKinney North High School choir was there and did a great job of singing a number of patriotic songs for the many people attending the dedication. In the audience were two soldiers from World War II, both of them in their nineties. It was good to see them there.
Ronnie Foster, the Marine who got all of this rolling, gave a very inspiring speech. He picked several names from the list and shared their stories with the crowd. He talked about Jerry Combest and the 21st of August and then had all the Bobcats stand up to be recognized. Later at the end of the ceremony we all stood and a bugler played taps. Just at that moment the local military aircraft pilots did a missing man fly by in World War II planes. It was very poignant moment. We didn’t know the planes were coming and then all of a sudden, there they were overhead. They made two passes for us and really put a nice finish on the ceremony. Directly after the ceremony we met with Betty (Jerry Combest’s sister) and some of her family. We took many pictures and got to know them a little.
After the dedication was over, most of the Bobcats went out to see Doc David Shortnacy and his wife Kay at their home. We sat around and talked war stories and remembrances for a while. Then kay was so nice as to serve us coffee, pecan pie and ice cream. We talked a little more and then returned to the hotel. We had dinner that night at Boston’s restaurant and got to know each other better and better. When we were finally finished we retired and prepared to leave the next morning for our homes. We awoke to a beautiful golden sunrise and had breakfast together. Afterwards we said our goodbyes and made our way home.
Friday, November 11, we assembled at the hotel in McKinney and went to see the memorial. There was a small ceremony that night at the site. They had all present assemble in front of the Memorial and we were entertained with some wonderful songs sung by the soloists from the McKinney North High School choir. After a few words, we were read the entire list of the 345 names on the memorial. These names cover all those lost in the wars starting at World War I to the present. That day we ate at the local Boston’s restaurant near our hotel. It was good to see so many of the Bobcats together again. We had a pleasant evening over current updates and war stories.
On Saturday, November 12, we were taken by a special bus from our hotel to the Memorial for the main ceremony. Before the ceremony, we met Wes Carey, a chaplain friend of John Snodgrass.
The entire McKinney North High School choir was there and did a great job of singing a number of patriotic songs for the many people attending the dedication. In the audience were two soldiers from World War II, both of them in their nineties. It was good to see them there.
Ronnie Foster, the Marine who got all of this rolling, gave a very inspiring speech. He picked several names from the list and shared their stories with the crowd. He talked about Jerry Combest and the 21st of August and then had all the Bobcats stand up to be recognized. Later at the end of the ceremony we all stood and a bugler played taps. Just at that moment the local military aircraft pilots did a missing man fly by in World War II planes. It was very poignant moment. We didn’t know the planes were coming and then all of a sudden, there they were overhead. They made two passes for us and really put a nice finish on the ceremony. Directly after the ceremony we met with Betty (Jerry Combest’s sister) and some of her family. We took many pictures and got to know them a little.
After the dedication was over, most of the Bobcats went out to see Doc David Shortnacy and his wife Kay at their home. We sat around and talked war stories and remembrances for a while. Then kay was so nice as to serve us coffee, pecan pie and ice cream. We talked a little more and then returned to the hotel. We had dinner that night at Boston’s restaurant and got to know each other better and better. When we were finally finished we retired and prepared to leave the next morning for our homes. We awoke to a beautiful golden sunrise and had breakfast together. Afterwards we said our goodbyes and made our way home.