Photo By Capt. Monika Comeaux | Brig. Gen. Clark W. LeMasters, Jr., the commander of the 13th Sustainment Command...... read more read more
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BELTON, Texas - Soldiers and the command team from the 13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) participated in the Patriot Plaza rededication ceremony Nov. 8 in Belton, and were in for a wonderful surprise upon completion of the event.
Members of the Belton Area Chamber of Commerce presented the a giant flag, that has flown on the 80-foot flag pole in the center of the plaza for the past two years, since the original dedication, Nov. 9, 2011.
At the beginning of the ceremony, the soldiers assisted the members of the Belton Police Department to raise the new flag, replacing the one that was gifted.
As the Mayor of the City of Belton, Jim Covington and the Belton Chamber Military Relations Chairman, Jay Taggart explained, the story of Patriot Plaza goes back more than a decade. Belton really wanted to honor veterans, given the city’s close relationship to Fort Hood, so as part of their Central Avenue Street Project, they have built the Patriot Way Brick Walk and Patriot Plaza.
The latter was dedicated during Veterans Day weekend in 2011, by the 13th SC(E)’s that time commander, the late Brig. Gen. Terrence J. Hildner, said Covington. In that ceremony, it was the color guard of the 13th SC(E), who raised the giant U.S. flag.
Dedicating the plaza to veterans came natural for a city that has such close ties with service members at Fort Hood.
“It is our way as a community to say that we know of your service, we thank you for your service, recognizing what you have done for both you and your family, and have given us the freedoms that we enjoy today as the greatest country in the world,” said Taggart.
The SC(E) commander commended Belton for being a wonderful partner city to his unit.
“I am extremely proud of the great relationship we have with the City of Belton. It is more than just signs on schools, it is friendships and it is personal involvement and it is a relationship that we have established since this command has been at Fort Hood,” LeMasters said.
The commander also thanked Belton for showing such great appreciation for members of the military: “You could have chosen to look at the college, the fire department, the police department or others, but we greatly appreciate the fact that you looked at the military, and part of this is here to honor the military.”
He concluded his remarks by assuring his audience that no matter what hardships will come her way; the Army will keep marching along.
“For those of you who have served, thank you for the legacy you left for us, and thank you for establishing the way ahead for us to follow.”
The ceremony concluded with the surprise presentation of the giant U.S. flag to the command team of the 13th SC(E), which unit will display in their headquarters building.
| Date Taken: | 11.08.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 11.08.2013 20:12 |
| Story ID: | 116514 |
| Location: | BELTON, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 110 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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