Como-Pickton FFA members Hunter Cooksey, and Paige Cooksey, pause with their
grandfather, Ward Cooksey, a veteran, at Wednesday's Como-Pickton Program.

 

Como-Pickton Students Honor Veterans
of Community on Wednesday

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

Pickton native and veteran, Harold Mays, was the keynote speaker for
Wednesday's program at Como-Pickton School.

 

It was series of patriotic songs played by the Como-Pickton Band, a presentation by the Como-Pickton Choir, and several speeches by FFA Students, as the annual Como-Pickton FFA Veteran's Day Program unfolded at the school. But, the highlight of the day was when veterans from the Como-Pickton area of Hopkins County were recognized individually and asked to tell about their service in the U.S. Military. Pickton native, Harold Mays was the keynote speaker, and he told of joining the military after graduating from high school in 1957. "I thought Cumby was 'far west Texas,' back then!" exclaimed Mays. "But, I was soon shipped to California and realized how big this old world really was!"

 

The Como-Pickton Band and Choir presented patriotic songs.

 

 

"But, my experiences in the military taught me many valuable lessons in life, and showed me what it was to work with a team, and to be a part of something much, much bigger than myself, while I defended my country!" continued Mays. "Service to one's country is the highest of honors and a duty that all of us must make certain is accomplished to preserve the freedoms we enjoy!"

 

 

         

These veterans from the Como-Pickton area of Hopkins County were among those who spoke to the students about their service.

 

 

Mays also told the students about being in grade school, in Mrs. Pauline's class and collecting scrap metal to be sent to Japan. Then, the learned that the scrap metal they were collecting was being used to build bombs, possibly the very bombs that were used at Pearl Harbor!

 

FFA students delivered speeches about Veteran's Day.

 

 

 

Following Mays program, students passed the microphone through the audience and veterans of all the services were introduced and told of their experiences, that gave students a "first-hand" and personal aspect of service to their country. "We weren't much older than the senior students here today," explained one U.S. Air Army Corps veteran. "And, we were given the responsibility of operating a helicopter, and protecting fellow comrades in the jungles and rice paddies of Vietnam!"

 

U.S. soldier, Chris McKeithan, received a standing ovation from those
attending Como-Pickton's Veteran's Day Program.

 

Most moving was when it came to current military soldier, Chris McKeithan, who rose and thanked all of the veterans for their efforts and spoke to the students about their duty of serving their country, so that our nation could be protected. McKeithan received a standing ovation, as he told the students, "The reason that I serve is so that you, my parents, and the rest of this nation can lay down and sleep at night, and not be fearful of attack!"

 

 

It's beautiful bucolic, autumn scenes, such as this in the Como-Pickton area, that our fighting men and women are
preserving for us to enjoy!

______