The Coahoma Choir Kids perform the Armed Force Medley during Wednesday's community-wide Veterans Day celebration at the Dorothy Garrett Coliseum. (HERALD photo/Thomas Jenkins)

By STEVE REAGAN     
Staff Writer
America hasn't always appreciated its warriors, but that wasn't the case  in Big Spring Wednesday.

A small but vocal audience showed up to give this country's soldiers — past and present — a pat on the back during Veterans Day ceremonies at Dorothy Garrett Coliseum.

Appreciation — or the lack thereof — for our veterans was the theme of the program as speakers reminded the audience that this country has not always supported its returning soldiers.

“It's appropriate today to reflect on the treatment returning veterans have received,” said U.S. Air Force Col. David A. Rearick, keynote speaker of the program. “It's also appropriate to note that our veterans have received uneven treatment over the years.”

Rearick, the vice commander of the 17th Training Wing at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, said that treatment has ranged from parades and celebrations for soldiers returning from World War II to indifference aimed toward Korean War veterans to outright hostility directed at soldiers coming home from Vietnam.

“In recent years, however, we as a nation learned an important lesson from the treatment of Vietnam veterans,” Rearick added. “The treatment returning veterans receive today ... is how it always should have been. Americans have finally got it — the greatest country in the world is free because of its veterans.”

Big Spring Mayor Russ McEwen also praised veterans, but in off-the-cuff remarks, criticized the local turnout for Wednesday's event.

“I'm coming (to the veterans) with an apology,” McEwen said. “The stands here should be full of people saying, 'Thank you.' ... so, on behalf of the people of Big Spring, I say, 'Thank you.'”

Wednesday's program also included patriotic songs sung by choirs from Goliad Intermediate School and the Coahoma Choir Kids, a presentation by the Forsan Junior High School Diplomats and a wreath-laying by Gold Star Mothers Belinda Garcia and Melissa Volker.

Contact Staff Writer Steve Reagan at 263-7331 ext. 234 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it