Honoring Those Who Served: Local Tributes Celebrate Veterans and Their Legacies

Four military chaplains stood aboard a sinking ship in the Atlantic Ocean during World War II. As frightened servicemen scrambled for safety and life jackets ran out, each chaplain removed his own and handed it to another man.

One was Methodist, another Jewish, one Catholic and the fourth belonged to the Dutch Reformed Church. None asked the religion of the person receiving his life jacket.

Instead, they chose to save others, knowing they would likely lose their own lives.

The story of the Four Chaplains, who died when the USAT Dorchester sank in February 1943, was shared by retired Col. Dwayne Wagner during a Veterans Day ceremony at Memorial Baptist Church in Evansville on Nov. 11.

“The four chaplains simply took off the life jacket and gave it to another person,” Wagner told attendees, using the story to illustrate the sacrifice and selflessness of military service.

It was a message that resonated with the purpose of several Veterans Day observances across Evansville, where community organizations gathered to honor veterans, recognize their contributions and preserve their stories for future generations.

Recognizing Service at Memorial Baptist Church

The Veterans Day ceremony at Memorial Baptist Church was coordinated by retired Marine Master Sgt. William Dixon, an Evansville native who returned to his hometown in May after living away for 38 years.

Dixon said he was motivated to organize the program after noticing limited opportunities specifically recognizing African American veterans.

“I’ve been to many ceremonies, veteran ceremonies in our city, where you see maybe one or two African American, Black, or people of color at these veteran events,” Dixon said.

He emphasized that the effort was not intended to diminish the service of other veterans but to create more opportunities to recognize the contributions and heritage of Black service members.

Working with the church’s pastor, Dixon hopes the program will grow beyond Memorial Baptist Church, eventually bringing multiple congregations together for a larger community-wide celebration.

The ceremony included a prayer by Marine Corp veteran Al Kincaid, the national anthem performed by Azaria Stewart and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Army veteran Watez Phelps Sr., and Lance Cpl. Sylvia Perkins-King, Marine Corp veteran rang a bell seven times in remembrance of fallen service members.

Wagner, the guest speaker, described military service as an honorable profession, emphasizing that veterans come from every race, religion, ethnicity and political background. “We went where we were ordered, we did what the nation asked, even when we disagreed,” Wagner said.

He also challenged civilians to recognize their responsibilities to veterans beyond ceremonial appreciation. He urged citizens to hold elected officials accountable for exhausting diplomatic options before sending troops into combat and to advocate for compassionate veterans’ health care, employment opportunities and support for those experiencing post-traumatic stress.

From Evansville to a National Memorial

For Dixon, the importance of remembering military service is also deeply personal.

In 1990, he deployed as a young Marine from Evansville to support combat operations following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. He participated in the U.S.-led military effort to liberate the country during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

More than thirty years later, Dixon traveled to Washington, D.C., in October for the dedication of the National Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial.

Dixon said he was honored to represent Evansville, Indiana and fellow service members at the national commemoration, which he said drew more than 13,000 veterans and family members. “It was my honor to represent not just Marines, but all service members, especially from my home city of Evansville,” Dixon said.

He reflected on the significance of returning to the nation’s capital to commemorate a conflict in which he personally served, expressing gratitude for having survived and being able to share the experience with others.

Dixon, who retired as a master sergeant, also hopes younger generations will consider military service as one of several pathways to personal and professional development.

“Look at the military as a choice,” he said, encouraging young people to research the educational opportunities, training and skills available through service.

His advice extends beyond a military career.

“One day you’re going to take off the uniform, you’re going to return home or go somewhere else, but you’re going to have to blend into the community and give back.”

Carver Honors Veterans with Quilts of Valor

Earlier in the week, Carver Community Organization held its annual Veterans Appreciation Luncheon Nov. 9 at the University of Southern Indiana, marking the first time the longstanding program was hosted at the university.

According to Executive Director Deiona Clayton, the luncheon is part of Carver’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), supported through an AmeriCorps grant. Many attendees participate in Carver’s senior programming.

The event featured a special presentation by the Quilts of Valor Foundation, a national organization founded in 2003 that recognizes veterans and service members with handmade quilts symbolizing comfort, gratitude and appreciation.

Nine veterans received quilts during the ceremony, including a Coast Guard veteran, marking a first for the local presentation.

Michele Hardin, Carver’s RSVP program director and luncheon coordinator, said each quilt is certified and handmade by volunteers, with special meaning for its recipient. The presentation also recognized the veterans’ military backgrounds, including their ranks, branches of service and accomplishments.

For some, the recognition was especially meaningful.

“We were never honored in this way,” one veteran remarked.

The experience began before the luncheon, as veterans were treated to a limousine ride to the university. For honoree Willie Gray, it was his first time riding in a limousine.

“It didn’t really touch me until seeing how they lit up,” Hardin said, reflecting on the veterans’ reactions.

Retired Marine Cody Burns of Owensboro also addressed attendees, sharing his military experiences and the challenges of transitioning from service to civilian life.

For Clayton, the luncheon and other recent opportunities to recognize veterans, including The Wall That Heals, a traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, reinforced the importance of finding more ways to acknowledge military service throughout the year.

She said communities often concentrate their recognition around Veterans Day, although the sacrifices made by service members deserve ongoing appreciation.

Preserving African American Military History

The Evansville African American Museum is also highlighting military service through a free Military Speaker Series scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 12, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the museum.

The program will explore Evansville’s wartime history and efforts to preserve the experiences of African American service members and their families.

Featured speakers include University of Evansville historian James MacLeod, two-time Purple Heart recipient Robert Chester and Cory Burdette, operations coordinator for the USS LST Ship Memorial.

“Preserving African American history means making sure the experiences of our veterans, service members, and their families are recognized as an essential part of our community’s story,” said museum curator Tory Schendel-Vyvoda in the event announcement.

The program is part of a broader initiative supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Plans include an exhibition, oral-history interviews, additional historical markers along the Evansville African American Heritage Trail and a traveling lecture series.

A Legacy Beyond Veterans Day

While the ceremonies offer opportunities to celebrate military service, organizers, like Clayton hope their impact will extend beyond the holiday.

For Dixon, that includes creating more opportunities for African American veterans to be seen, heard and celebrated, while encouraging younger generations to recognize the value of service to their country and community.

The sacrifice Wagner described during the Memorial Baptist Church ceremony serves as a reminder that service extends beyond the uniform, and that honoring those who have served means carrying their example of compassion, courage and commitment to others.

Veterans Honored at Memorial Baptist Church

According to the Memorial Baptist Church program, 17 veterans were recognized:

Name	Military Branch
Dino Barrett	U.S. Navy Reserve
Lawrence Barrett	U.S. Marine Corps
Orlando Barrett	U.S. Army
William J. Dixon	U.S. Marine Corps
George R. Flowers Sr.	U.S. Army
Roger Hobby	U.S. Army
Al Kincaid	U.S. Marine Corps
Sylvia Perkins-King	U.S. Marine Corps
Kenneth Kirkwood	U.S. Air Force
Earl McNary Jr.	U.S. Navy
Robert McNary	U.S. Army
Tinsley Northington	U.S. Air Force
Watez G. Phelps	U.S. Army
Emory Redding	U.S. Army
William Palmer Taylor	U.S. Army
Marisa Tidwell	U.S. Army
Benton Willis	U.S. Army