“The Colony celebrates service”

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 11:06 PM PST

A large American Flag hangs ceremonially from the ladder of a The Colony Fire Department vehicle at the entrance to 5-Star Park on Saturday./Blaine Crimmins, staff photo

It's not often something could be described as both solemn and festive but Saturday's Veterans Day event in The Colony managed to find the right blend.

"American Heroes: A Salute to Veterans" at 5-Star Park featured a series of memorial services alongside a carnival, athletic events, and stage performances -- all in the name of honoring the nation's servicemen and women with an all-day weekend event.

Holley-Riddle American Legion Post Commander Bob Bourbon said he talked to veterans from Vietnam, Korea, Iraq, and Afghanistan on Saturday, all of which said it was a great day.

"This is recognition of the veterans. That's what this is all about," Bourbon said.

The schedule kicked off with 5K and 10K races and a 1-mile fun run at Stewart Creek Park. Bourbon estimated more than 200 runners participated in the races, which "far exceeded what we were looking for," he said.

A memorial ceremony titled, "Honor and Remember," featured Mayor Joe McCourry, Robert Stapleton from the Veterans Falls Memorial in Granbury, local Legion representatives, and 2010 Miss Texas Ashley Melnick.

"Ms. Texas did a great job. She was super, being out there meeting people," Bourbon said.

By the afternoon, 5-Star was full of attendees touring the vendor huts, riding rides in the carnival, and listening to live music. "American Idol" contestant Bucky Covington was the headlining act.

After patiently signing autographs and taking photos with fans before his show, Covington said he loved having the opportunity to perform at an event recognizing the service of veterans.

"Anything you can do for the vets of course is always a great thing," he said, adding that he was a big fan of the History Channel and learning about what veterans have endured. "Through the wars going on now and the wars that have gone on before, these guys have really put a lot on the line."

Covington also said he was glad to be playing before a Texas crowd.

"We love getting down into Texas. We don't get to Texas very often so God bless y'all for having us," he said.

As the day wound down, Bourbon expressed appreciation to all the people in the Legion, its auxiliaries, and the city for helping make it all come together.

"It wasn't me. ... It was a bunch of people doing great things," he said. "I learned a long time ago as an officer in the Army, if people are doing things well then stay out of their way."

Bourbon credited the city's Parks and Recreation Department in particular for doing a "class A job" in co-hosting the event with the Legion.

"Overall for the whole day, I think we hit a home run. I hope that the people in the city recognize this as it grows from year to year. It's not just a carnival but an event for veterans," Bourbon said.

Half the day's proceeds went to the DFW USO because "that's where (the troops) come through," added Bourbon. "I could send it to Washington, D.C., but then I don't know where it's going to go."

Early last week, McCourry said "American Heroes" was just a small token of appreciation the city could show for the service veterans have given to the country.

�It starts from the community up. We have a large percentage of veterans in our community," he said. "This is small in comparison to what they did and the things they went through. I�m glad that our community supports this type of activity. Everyone celebrates Veterans Day, but not to this extent. It�s important that some community, our community, fill that void."

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American Heroes

Thursday, December 2, 2010