Lest We Forget

I will be at the "Lest We Forget" ceremony on May 15th. The following is the press release about it.


A Lubbock Tradition: 4th Annual “Lest We Forget “
Ceremony to Honor Area Military Heroes

“…I was summoned by my country, whose voice I can never hear but with veneration and love…”
President George Washington’s first inaugural address

The Lubbock Lions Club 4th Annual “Lest We Forget” program will honor veterans of the recent military conflicts during their regularly scheduled noon meeting on Tuesday, May 15th, at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center. Tribute will be paid to all veterans but especially those that served in Desert Storm, Desert Shield and the Gulf War; Bosnia, and Kosovo; Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan; and Iraqi Freedom and the Second Gulf War.

“The Lions club is honored to recognize all veterans. This particular year we are privileged to have
Col. Roger H. Donlon, a holder of the Congressional Medal of Honor, as our guest speaker,” said Lion J.Q. Warnick, Jr. “Professor James Reckner, Director of the Texas Tech Viet Nam Center will introduce Col. Donlon.”

Roger Donlon, Colonel, United States Army (Ret.) served the United Stated for twenty-nine years in assignments based on his specialty as an Infantry Special Forces and Foreign Area Officer. In 1964, as a Captain, Colonel Donlon was the first American soldier to be awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam. President Lyndon B. Johnson presented the award “for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his own life above and beyond the call of duty on 6 July 1964.” Besides Vietnam, his many assignments took him to Korea, Thailand, Panama, Japan, and Fort Leavenworth, KS. Colonel Donlon is the author of Beyond Nam Dong, a self-published autobiography and co-author of Outpost of Freedom. Since retirement, Colonel Donlon has served on many military and civilian boards and committees and currently is a member of the Vietnam Center National Council at Texas Tech University.

At Col. Donlon’s request the Lubbock Lions Club will donate $1,000.00 to the General Westmoreland Scholarship fund at the Tech Viet Nam Center in lieu of an honorarium.

Several local veterans will share their experiences during their service with panel moderator Greg McAlister. These include Lion and Honorable Judge Mackey Hancock, Associate Justice, 7th Court of Appeal, Lion and State Rep. Carl Isett, Lion Amy Paiva, Col. Dave Lewis, Commander, Air Force ROTC Detachment 820 at Texas Tech University, Lt. Col. Bob Buscher, Commander, Army ROTC at Texas Tech University and Master Sergeant Bryan Burt, Army ROTC at Texas Tech University.

During the program the Lubbock Lions will recognize medal holders from all branches of the military. Other highlights will include the Presentation of Colors by the Honor Guard from the Direct Support Motor Transport, company B-, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Lubbock, Texas. Music will be provided by trumpeters Preston and James Wickersham, Lions Terry Hawkins and Ruth Holmes and Sigurd Ogaard, First United Methodist Church.

Reservations are required to attend the program. Reservations must be made by noon Friday, May 11, by calling the Lions Club Office, 763-4789. Admission to the luncheon is $8.00 and can be paid at the door. There is no charge for visiting veterans; they are guests of the Lubbock Lions Club, courtesy of Lion Ron Betenbough and Betenbough Homes. The serving line will open at 11:15 a.m. The program will begin at noon.

The Lubbock Lions Club is the largest Lions Club in the United States and was founded in 1928. Tens of thousands of dollars are donated to the Lubbock community each year through the Lubbock Lions two major fund raisers, the T.V. Auction, held each August, and the Pancake Breakfast, held every February.

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Overnight accommodations for the speaker were provided by Staybridge Suites, 2515 19th Street, Lubbock.