On Memorial Day, we had the opportunity to take part in a great celebration right here in McKinney. For over 20 years, the Pecan Grove Cemetery has hosted a Memorial Day event. The cemetery dates back to the 1800's, and there are veterans from every conflict (as far back as the Texas Revolution!) buried there. Boy Scout Troop 303, has been involved since the beginning. They get together on Saturday and put flags on each veteran's grave - some American flags, some Confederate, even Texas flags. The cemetery provides food for Monday as well. The boys volunteer to cook beans, cobblers, and briskets and bring it early on Monday morning. They also provide parking assistance, a color guard, and then clean up the place afterwards.
Nick, Drew, and Brad were all involved every step of the way. Nick provided beans and carried the American flag in the color guard, Drew cooked apple cobbler and played in the all-city middle school band, and Brad made blackberry cobbler and was part of the scout detail. I don't know how many people actually were there this year, but last year there were well over 700!!
This is such a wonderful opportunity for these young men to see that Memorial Day is so much more than a day off and a barbeque. They understand that it is a day to honor the soldiers who have lost their lives in the service of this country, defending our rights, and helping to make our country what it is today.
The local chapters of the Knights of Columbus, Knights Templar, Civil War re-enactors, Firemans' Bagpipers, McKinney mounted police, Congressmen Sam Johnson and Ralph Hall, Mayor Bill Whitfield, and countless other local dignitaries were in attendance.
A WWII Stearman open cockpit bi-plane did a great flyover as part of the ceremony!
This is a very moving video that I found, done by Terry Kelly, reminding us all to take a few minutes to remember our fallen soldiers.
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