The Rockdale News Rockdale News Digital Edition, June 10, 2015 | Page 7

Veterans Corner
Wednesday, June 10, 2015

PANTHERS, PATHOS AND PRIDE
BY PETE MECCA

This week’s “A Veteran’s Story” does not single out a veteran to
tell his or her story. Instead, I hope my story of decent men and
women doing the right thing is the right thing for me to do. We,
as a country, have come too far at the cost of too many citizen
soldiers to buy into the dishonorable messages of flag-stompers,
crafty politicians, hate-mongers and race-baiters, and religions
that execute the innocent in the name of their deity. I prefer
America’s way of doing things, ‘One nation, under God, indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all.’
The Bartlett High School Panthers, class of 1965, held their
50th reunion over Memorial Day weekend. My wife and I
attended. For many of my old classmates time has graciously
stood still. Others, fighting various cancers or unable to attend
due to unscheduled bypass surgery, were not as fortunate.
My old high school stomping ground, Bartlett, Tennessee,
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“They fought
together as brothersin-arms. They died
together and now
sleep side by side.
To them we have a
solemn obligation.”
— ADMIRAL CHESTER W. NIMITZ