By Stephen Smoot
“These men have gone and risked their lives for their state and this nation,” said Tom Willis from Shinnston American Legion Post 31. “It’s an honor just to thank them in person for what they do for us.”
The tradition of military service in America dates a century and a half before that of American independence itself. From militia men (and in the case of “Mad” Anne Bailey, women) to men such as George Washington who became enamored with the professional British Army, Americasn before independence protected their families, property, and country in that order from several enemies.
In many cases, men signed on to march through hundreds of miles of howling wilderness, guard lonely outposts far from their families and homes, and serve their country. They risked all to protect all that mattered most.
Times change. Technology advances. The issues and problems that drive nations to violence evolve and change, but never disappear, always growing more dangerous over time.
Never in the history of America, neither as a set of colonies nor as an independent state, has the need to have men standing guard to protect the people and nation ever slackened. The dangers and challenges always change, but never quite disappear.
On November 11 at 11 AM sharp, Shinnston will watch the commencement of its Veterans’ Day parade. The holiday, which originally celebrated the armistice ending the First World War, now honors all who served honorably as servicemen and women.
The Shinnston Lions Club organizes the parade every year and encourages all to participate, honoring all who served, no matter where or in what capacity. Honoring the service means honoring every role, from infantryman to any positions away from the front lines because all do their part.
Willis noted that “in our past meeting, we recognized Dave Minor and his organization for stepping up.”
The parade will be headed by a set of grand marshals. Some may assume from the first syllable that the term originates in Mars, the Roman God of War. His name also lends itself to the month of March, when campaigns from Greek and Roman times all the way to Operation Desert Storm commenced.
The word “Marshal,” however, came from an old Frankish term “mareschal.” That word originally denoted an officer who tended to the horses of superior officers. The word “constable” meant something similar, but originated in the Latin tongue. “Mareshcals” evolved into “marshals.” Field Marshals held the highest rank in many European empires and kingdoms.
Americans never applied the term to military rank, likely due to associations with dynastic style rule.
That said, the term remains one associated with both honor and leadership, which is why parades use the role to celebrate important contributors to the community.
Jeff Cain will serve as one of the Shinnston Veterans’ Day Parade grand marshals. He earned the rank of sergeant while serving in the United States Army between March of 1977 through 1985. Serving as a wheel and track mechanic, he kept vital machinery running while serving at Fort Knox in Kentucky, Fort Polk in Louisiana, and in deployments to Germany and Japan.
Willis shared that Cain was “hurt a couple of times” in the line of duty, reminding all that service away from the battlefield is no guarantee of safety.
John Howard Kendall was born on Oct 6, 1940 as the German Luftwaffe pounded the cities of Great Britain from the air during World War II. He was the son of William Guy Kendall and Linnie Virginia St. Clair. William, George, Richard, Jack, Darrell, then John were his brothers.
At the age of four, the Shinnston tornado left the family homeless, but they still persevered. Kendall graduated from Shinnston High School in 1958 and joined the United States Army the next year.
At Fort Jackson, Kendall completed his basic training, then went on to Fort Knox to train with armored vehicles, then Fort Campbell for jump school. He transferred to West Germany and experienced the crisis following the building of the Berlin Wall in the early 60s, also serving in units that patrolled the Soviet border.
In April of 1963, Kendall received his discharge after serving for just over three years in the elite 101st Airborne.
History writes about the generals, admirals, field marshals, and others who train, direct, and lead military formations. Without those men repairing the tracks and wheels on the tanks or volunteering to take on dangerous roles in elite divisions such as the 101st Airborne, those in the highest ranks could accomplish absolutely nothing of value.
And that is why Shinnston emphasizes equal honor to all who served honorably.