Aila Boyd
aboyd@mainstreetnewspapers.com
The Salem VA Health Care System hosted a History Walk/Roll and ceremony June 18 as part of the national Freedom 250 campaign, honoring the men and women who have protected and strengthened the nation throughout its history.
Held at the Salem VA Medical Center campus, the event featured outdoor historical displays tracing the history of the United States and the role veterans have played in serving the nation since before its founding. The displays highlighted military service dating to the establishment of the U.S. Army in 1775 and included information about early laws enacted to support veterans injured while defending colonial settlements.
Attendees also explored exhibits focused on local history, including the history of the Salem VA Medical Center. Displays highlighted the facility’s presidential distinction, its listing on the National Register of Historic Places and an employee who developed a piece of technology at the medical center to serve veterans.
The event concluded with a ceremony featuring patriotic music by the 29th Infantry Division Band of Troutville and a presentation of the colors by the American Legion Post 16 Color Guard of Lynchburg.
Retired U.S. Army Col. John R. Miller delivered the keynote address, reflecting on the generations of Americans who have served in the nation’s military.
“From Valley Forge to Yorktown, from San Juan Hill to Manila, from the Battle of the Bulge to Iwo Jima, from Seoul to Saigon, from Kuwait to Kandahar, and from Baghdad to Kabul, our citizens have borne the cost of America’s wars and stood watch over America’s peace,” Miller said. “We acknowledge all who have answered the call to service — whether they live in honor among us, or sleep in valor beneath the sacred ground at Arlington or Dublin.”
Miller noted the contributions of millions of veterans throughout the nation’s history.
“We give thanks to the 24 million Americans that have strengthened our nation with their example of service and sacrifice, discipline, dedication, and respect for others,” he said. “They came from America’s cities and America’s farmlands — some charged across great battlefields, some fought on the high seas, some patrolled the open skies — but all contributed to the character and greatness of these United States of America.”
In concluding his remarks, Miller compared the service of today’s military members and veterans to the sacrifices made by the nation’s founders.
“The men and women of America’s armed forces today, as well as all our veterans, serve a cause as great as the 56 original signatories on the Declaration of Independence,” he said. “In public ceremonies and in private reflection, let us give thanks for the freedom we enjoy because of their willingness to serve yesterday, today and tomorrow.”
Salem VA Health Care System Interim Executive Director Tammy Snyder also addressed attendees, emphasizing the significance of the nation’s upcoming semiquincentennial.
“Today is a celebration of our nation’s history, our shared values, and the people who continue to strengthen our communities through service,” Snyder said. “As we look ahead to the next 250 years, may we be inspired by the values, resilience, and spirit of those who came before us.”
The event was part of the Freedom 250 initiative, a national effort commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States. Salem VA officials said the observance celebrated veterans who have defended the nation’s freedoms and highlighted the enduring connection between military service and American history.
The Salem VA Medical Center will celebrate its 92nd anniversary later this year.
