American Legion Dewey Lowman Post 109 will host its annual Veterans Day ceremony at the flagpole in downtown Arbutus on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 10:30 a.m.

Guests will include members of the Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department, the Baltimore County Fire Department and local politicians, said Chuck Catterton, a member of the American Legion for 25 years.

Catterton said County Councilman Sam Moxley is scheduled to speak at the event.

Dels. James Malone and Steven DeBoy, Democrats from District 12A that includes the Arbutus area, are scheduled to join him, along with state Sen. Edward Kasemeyer, whose District 12 also includes Arbutus.

Wednesday's ceremony will also include Cass Schreiner singing "The Star Spangled Banner" and "God Bless America," and Phil Penne playing his bagpipes, Catteron said.

Catterton served in Vietnam as a third class petty officer from 1965-1969, he said.

For him, Veterans Day is more about recognizing other military personnel than his own service.

"I show respect for the men and women who have served in the past, and people serving now," he said.

He said he also acknowledges other members of his family who have served. His father was in World War II, and his brother also served in Vietnam.

"Military service has been in my family for quite a while, since the Civil War," he said.

Catterton said attendance at the annual ceremony has steadily increased over the years.

He expects to see 60-70 people at the event.

"I look out at the faces and see some of the same people who show up every year," he said. "Politicians have always been good about showing up, too."

Mickey Knecht, in his first year as the post's leader, said the ceremony has been going on for at least the 14 years he has been a Legion member.

He said last year's event had 30 to 40 percent more people on hand than past ceremonies.

But, he said, the number of people there is not what matters.

"It's not about the people that are there, it's about the people that aren't there," said Knecht, who served in the Korean War from 1952-1955.

Knecht said there are about 30 names of local veterans who died in service carved into a marble stone that sits by the flagpole at the intersection of Sulphur Spring Road and Oregon Avenue.

And although he thinks about veterans and his own experiences daily, he likes taking time to pay a special tribute at the annual ceremony.

"There's not a day that goes by that I don't think about the people on that stone," he said.

But, he said, Veterans Day is a time to not just honor those who have died, but those living and still serving.

"Everyone who has served should be proud of that day," he said.

---

user comments (1)

user irishwoman says...

I am so glad to see that Arbutus still has this ceremony. It is so important to honor and respect our Veterans, no matter what war they participated in. I am married to a Vietnam Veteran, and believe me, war never ends for any Veteran, no matter how long they have been home. Bless you all!

Posted 11:50 AM, 11.08.09

• Permalink