ROANOKE RAPIDS — A sizable crowd of veterans and citizens gathered at the Becker Village Mall Wednesday to honor our heroes on Veterans Day and to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Dallas Jones Roanoke Valley Veterans Center.

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They heard music and listened to speakers, all of which treated the occasion with proper solemnity and ceremony.

George Willis, of the American Legion and La Societe De Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux, acted as master of ceremonies for the event. He welcomed the group and began by acknowledging America’s POWs and MIAs.

“Keep them in your prayers,” Willis urged. “They never have a good day; all their days are gloomy. All they want is to be brought home.”

Dallas Jones, founder and CEO of the Dallas Jones Veterans Center and Museum at the Becker Village Mall, looked over the assembly and proclaimed himself “overwhelmed” by the crowd. He stated the Center “was not the product of one man,” and expressed hope his creation “is bringing out the patriotism of Roanoke Rapids.”

Jones was the driving force in creating the Center last year. Earlier this year, the Center’s board to name the facility after him. A  Pearl Harbor survivor and World War II veteran, Jones is preparing to move to a veterans’ retirement center in Virginia but intends to remain active in the Center’s growth.

Wednesday, Halifax County Commissioner Rives Manning, veteran of the U.S. Army, spoke on behalf of the city and county and expressed thanks to veterans everywhere. “It’s been said if you see a banner and you can read it thank a teacher,” Manning said, adding, “If you can read it in English, thank a veteran.”

State Senator Ed Jones, also an Army veteran, made an appearance as well and told the group he was making a donation to Jones’ museum. “I’m very proud to be here,” Jones said. “This morning I brought my uniform so I can hang it in there (the Dallas Jones Center). It’s such an important thing to us that we continue this tradition.”

Retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. David L. Johnson provided the keynote address, emphasizing the debt Americans owe their service men and women. “Today we celebrate Veterans Day as a debt to all who have worn or are wearing the uniform of the United States.”

Johnson said Americans should remember the 1.4 million currently serving veterans in their prayers and should “honor all who shoulder the burden no matter where they served.”

The general also took the opportunity to honor veterans above those who served in World War II. “While World War II is associated with ‘the greatest generation,’ we have some pretty outstanding veterans who have served or are serving since 1945,” Johnson said.

Johnson warned Americans not to turn away from veterans just because of their dislike of warfare. “Most Americans want to put wars behind them based on a collective exhaustion,” Johnson said.  “This feeling can come at great cost because it led to resentment for returning Vietnam veterans.”

The general also urged Americans to press the government to honor promises made to its veterans. “America needs to show an interest in caring for our veterans,” Johnson stated. “The VA (Veterans Administration) needs to be fully funded because it was a solemn promise from our government that Tricare (health care for veterans) would be for life.”

Johnson expressed hope American citizens would embrace returning veterans of our current wars, stating he hoped to see civilians embracing returning soldiers at airports. “A repeat of the tragedy that followed the Vietnam War will not be tolerated.”

Also during the ceremony, the Gastonettes performed patriotic music. Five branches of the Armed Services heard their respective songs sung and the group performed “Grand Old Flag,” “Yankee Doodle Boy” and “The Star Spangled Banner.” The ceremony concluded with “God Bless America.”