Published: July 03, 2008 11:41 pm      

Veterans, flags honored at luncheon

ASHLAND — An afternoon of laughs and magic carried a solemn message and a reminder to attendees: Independence Day is about enjoying the freedoms we have but it is also about honoring those who have defended them.

At its annual luncheon Thursday, the Summer Motion committee honored veterans and the American flag.

“Summer Motion has many facets,” said committee member and luncheon coordinator Dianne Clement. “It is a family event and we do provide fun things for people to enjoy — people of all ages — but we want to keep in mind what the holiday is about.

“We have this luncheon to concentrate and pay tribute to the different groups who have made it possible for us to enjoy the freedoms we have.”

“It’s another opportunity for the community and Summer Motion to recognize and thank our veterans. It’s just a more personal way to say thank you to those folks,” added committee member and co-coordinator Phil Hall.

That effort is not lost on attendees.

Veteran Bob Riddle said the events of Summer Motion and the luncheon do make him feel honored. A veteran of both the Navy and Air Force, Riddle, 80, said he thinks the community does a better job than many at honoring its veterans and their sacrifices.

“I’m as patriotic as they come. I fly the American flag every day, but this is a patriotic community. It always has been,” he said.

Summer Motion President Chuck Charles said he, too, believes this community is one of the most patriotic places in America. He said he, along with the committee, works very hard to make the festival a vehicle to pass along and celebrate that sense of patriotism.

“We play a role in our community as Summer Motion to keep that alive,” he said.

Charles said the committee makes a point of playing the national anthem each day of the festival and always has a fireworks display on Independence Day, regardless of which day of the week it falls on.

“That’s what they are made for,” he said.

CARRIE KIRSCHNER can be reached at ckirschner@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2653.