Carroll County has always paid tribute to the county's veterans — those who fight to preserve our liberties and way of life.

This point was driven home when more than 500 gathered to pay tribute to Marine Staff Sgt. Charles Isaac Cartwright, 26, from Union Bridge on Nov. 16. Cartwright gave his final full measure to our country on Nov. 7 in Farah province, Afghanistan.

After the service, I had the opportunity to talk with Maj. Gen. Mastin M. Robeson, who commands the Marine Corps Special Operations Command. He was impressed with the community support for the Cartwright family, calling it an " incredible" display.

Well, it may be incredible, but it's routine for Carroll County.

In the first ground military action of the Spanish American War on June 10, 1898, Marines were sent in to establish a base at Guantánamo Bay.

It was on the second day of those military operations that Carroll County resident Sgt. Charles Hampton Smith was one of five Marines killed.

Smith was born near Smallwood on Jan. 15, 1867. More than 2,000 people attended his funeral. He was buried with full honors in Deer Park Methodist Cemetery.

This year, 111 years after Smith's death, Veteran's Day was commemorated in Carroll County at a number of high schools and at VFW and American Legion posts throughout Carroll County. The City of Westminster held its ceremonies at the Westminster Family Center, with retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Ronald Hollingsworth as speaker.

The Westminster Senior Center also continued a tradition by commemorating Veteran's Day on Nov. 10. The program was organized by former 1st Sgt. George Miller, a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge in World War II.

The program featured center manager Paul Garver, an invocation by Gordon Spittel, past chaplain of American Legion Post 31, and an address by Phillip Short, a retired U.S. Army Major.

We'll add our own small measure to that tribute, and on this page (above, right) show some of the faces of county veterans of today who deserve our thanks.

These Carroll County veterans who attended the Veterans Day program on Nov. 10 at Westminster Senior Center included, from from left:

Seated, Gordon Spittell, Jessie Chaves, Phillip Short, George Miller, Cliff Keffer, George Martin and Frank Martin; second row, John Kraus, Arthur Hauck, Todd Caple, Jerry Barnes, John Boone, William Haifley, John Corkran, Ed Stuller, Wilbur Haines, and Russ Proescher; and third row, Howard Evans, Bill Rau III, Pat Hauke, Harvey Dillon, Vernon Miller, Ray Brown, Curtis Hatcher, Bill Slade, Jack Lippy and Joe Fisher.

We will always remember their service to our country and our community.

When he's not saying thanks to veterans, Kevin Dayhoff may be reached at kevindayhoff@gmail.com or visit him at www.westminstermarylandonline.net.

---

user comments (0)