Veterans saluted at annual Wyandotte County Veterans Day Commemoration

by Mary Rupert

David Thaxton, guest speaker at the annual Wyandotte County Veterans Day Commemoration on Saturday, Nov. 4, reflected on his military service in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“What I learned was I am part of a bigger picture,” Thaxton said at the annual event, held at the Salvation Army Harbor Light Village, 6723 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. “I get to play a part in history.”

Thaxton, a captain with the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Department, was a staff sergeant in the Kansas Army National Guard 2-137th Infantry. He served from 1997 to 2009.

He recounted stories of his service in Iraq, dodging snipers and bombs.

Thaxton told the group that they need to keep educating people that freedom isn’t free, and that many veterans have paid a high price to keep America free.

History also was discussed by other speakers at the event, including Shawn Muller of Heartland Hospice and Dan Desko, with the B-25 history project. They talked about gathering oral histories from veterans.

Local government officials attending the event included Unified Government Commissioner Melissa Bynum, who read a proclamation from the Kansas City, Kansas, mayor; and Edwardsville Mayor John McTaggart.

The Piper Music in Motion group sang the national anthem and “Hallelujah.”

All veterans who attended were presented with pins in honor of their service.

There was also a free brunch donated by LePeep Restaurant of Lenexa, Kan.

This year’s Veterans Day event was presented by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 6401 of Wyandotte County. Partners and sponsors of the Wyandotte County Veterans Day Commemoration included the Kansas City, Kansas, Women’s Chamber, KCK Convention and Visitors Bureau, Salvation Army Harbor Light Village, Kansas City, Kansas, Public Library and Providence Medical Center.