The annual Veterans Day service program will be held at the Murphysboro American Legion, located at 1700 Gartside St. This year’s memorial is lining up to be a special one.
The program will start at 11:00 a.m., on Wednesday. The program will feature a speech from David ‘Purp’ Lavender, a decorated Vietnam veteran, and feature the Legion’s color guard. At the end of the ceremony, the Legion will unveil six new flag poles to honor the service of veterans and the memory of those who gave their life. Flags from each of the five branches will be raised around a new American flag. Afterward, a chili and clam chowder lunch will be offered.
“It’s a very important day for us veterans,” Lavender said.
Lavender said he encourages everyone in the community to attend and hopes for a good turnout. He said it is unfortunate that the true meaning of Veteran’s Day has been overlapped by the marketing ploys of businesses. He feels it is increasingly important for younger generations to understand the sacrifice made by veterans for their country.
“It’s a bad thing to forget,” he said.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars, post 7190, will also celebrate along the Legion.
About the Legion
The Paul Stout Murphysboro American Legion, post 127, has been in existence for over 80 years. It was named after a United States Marine, from Murphysboro, who served in World War I. Stout, born in 1898, was killed near Chateau Thierry, France, on July 19, 1918.
According to Louis Strack, Commander of the Color Guard, the Legion has 760 members. The members serve the community by offering color guard ceremonies at all veteran’s funerals in Jackson County, holding annual Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day services, and speaking to classrooms, ranging from grade schools to colleges, about the wars they served in. Strack said the color guard will be present at about 60 funerals this year.
History of Veterans Day
Veterans Day is a federal legal holiday held each year on November 11. It was first called Armistice Day when President Woodrow Wilson reserved the day in 1919, to memorize WWI. It was first recognized as a federal holiday in 1938. In 1954, Congress changed the name to “Veterans Day,” to honor all those who had served in the armed forces. Before 1978, Veteran’s Day was celebrated on the fourth Monday in October.
Speaker David ‘Purp’ Lavender
Pfc. David Lavender, known as ‘Purp,’ served with the Army 1st Air Cavalry from 1963 to 1965. He is the recipient of three Purple Hearts and a Presidential Citation.
Born in Murphysboro in 1942, his father, Bill, owned Murphysboro Auto Supply and his mother, Eloise, raised him and his two older brothers. He graduated from Murphysboro High School in 1960 and barber school in 1961. After the Vietnam War, he returned to the barber trade for over 40 years, he said.
Lavender said one day in 1963, he returned home to find a draft notice. Instead of electing to join the National Guard, Lavender joined the Army. He said he hadn’t even considered the chance of deploying to a war zone. “I had no idea where Vietnam was at,” he said.
While in Vietnam, Lavender fought, and was wounded, in one of America’s famous battles- in the IA Drang Valley. The battle, which occurred in November 1965, has been the subject matter of books and a Hollywood movie. Lavender was wounded in the hips on November 18; he said he spent 3 months recovering before he could return home.
One book written about the conflict is “We Were Soldiers Once…And Young,” written by Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore and Joseph Galloway. Lavender is mentioned in the work. The movie, “We Were Soldiers,” starring actor Mel Gibson, was just recently made.
Lavender said these days he enjoys spending time with his family and at the Legion. Lavender’s wife, Karen, is a retired MHS teacher. The couple has 3 daughters and 8 grandchildren, Lavender said.
