Centralia VFW Post 2055 hosted a service for Veterans Day on Wednesday to honor veterans and add nine names to the Court of Honor. The service is held annually, sponsored by Sutherland Garnier, Sutherland Rankin and Hillcrest Memorial Park, and co-hosted by local veterans’ organizations.
The nine veterans inducted this year are Rebecca Lasley, Owen Fontaine Lasley, Timothy Smythe, Curtis Hongsermeier, Charles Ernest Weathersby, John Downen, John Young, Roger Bryant, and Cody Rose. Each one received a plaque and was recognized for their service. Notably, Rebecca and Owen Lasley are the first spouses to be honored together at this event.
Cody Rose was the guest speaker at this year’s event. Rose, an Army veteran who enlisted in 2005 and served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Rose talked about the importance of providing support for veterans when they come back home.
“We need to show up,” Rose said. “Show up for veterans that stop coming around. Make the phone calls. Knock on the door. We lose to many of our own after the war is over. I’ve lost more brothers to suicide than I did in combat. A lot of the time, the thing that saves a life is just somebody noticing.”
The ceremony was open to the public and followed by a free meal, as it is every year.
Guest speaker Cody Rose speaks at the Veterans Day Service. Photo by Austin Williams.
