By Matthew Phillips

On Monday, veterans, families, and residents gathered at Bicentennial Park in Troy, to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to the United States. 

The annual Memorial Day ceremony served as a moment of remembrance and reflection, bringing together a community grateful for the sacrifices made by America’s fallen heroes.

“We gather here to honor those who did not come home,” said American Legion Post 70 Commander Bob McLendon. 

McLendon opened the ceremony with a solemn reminder.

“We gather here at Bicentennial Park twice a year, once in November and once in May,” he said. “We are here to honor those who did not come home.”

Randy Ross, Veterans Administration Representative for Pike County, followed with remarks expressing appreciation for the city’s support and the gravity of the day.

“I want to thank the city of Troy for the wonderful tribute—it is so visible along Hwy 231—to remember the wonderful men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice,” said Ross. “They gave their lives so that we may live in a country that is free because of the sacrifice they made. May we never forget the price they paid for our freedom, as we live in the greatest country on the face of the world.”

Retired Army Lt. Col. John “Doc” Holladay, now president of the Friends of Army Aviation, delivered the keynote speech. Holladay reflected on his early call to service and the military path that shaped his life.

“I am a retired Army officer, and like many veterans, a deep love of my country runs through my veins,” Holladay said. “I went into the Army right after high school, after my father and I had the father-and-son discussion, and he felt that serving in the military would be very beneficial for me. So I joined the Army at the young and tender age of 17, and my beloved mother had to sign for me to enlist because I was not 18 years old.”

He spoke about his 27-year career in the military, including combat service, aviation training and his decorated record.

“My career consisted of four and a half years as an enlisted soldier, with one year in Vietnam as a UH-1 Huey Crew G. I attended flight school and served as an officer flying gunships, as a pilot and pilot in command,” he recalled. “I returned to Vietnam for a third tour. In the next 21 years I served until I retired as lieutenant colonel. My career—I received a Combat Infantryman Badge, accumulated more than 15,000 flight hours across rotary-wing and fixed-wing platforms, including 5,100 of those hours done in combat. I was also awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses, three Bronze Stars (one with a ‘B’ device), 59 Air Medals (including one with a ‘B’ device), and several other awards presented by the South Vietnamese Government.”

Holladay paid special tribute to those who served in Vietnam, highlighting the iconic role of the UH-1 Huey helicopter and the devastating human cost of the war.

“The Huey accumulated over 10 million flight hours during the Vietnam War, making it the most combat-seasoned aircraft in the history of the United States,” said Holladay. “Casualty rates were as high as one in four. The Huey took soldiers into hell, and it was the Huey that flew them out.”.

He went on to share heartbreaking statistics etched into the granite wall of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., honoring the more than 58,000 lives lost who never returned.

“There are 39,996 individuals who were 22 years of age or younger. There are 18,283 that were 19 years old, 33,103 that were 18 years old, 12 that were 17 years old and finally five on the wall that are 16 years old,” Holladay said. “There are three sets of fathers and sons on the wall and 31 sets of parents who lost two sons. 997 were killed on their first day, and 1,448 were killed on their last day.

“Alongside them, eight women are also on the wall—all of whom were nurses. During the war, 244 soldiers received the Medal of Honor, with 153 of them displayed on the wall. As a point of interest, 2,202 helicopter pilots were killed and 2,704 crew members were killed. And as of May 25, there are still 1,571 still missing today.”

Since June 2005, Holladay has served as president of the nonprofit Friends of Army Aviation, a group dedicated to preserving the history of Army aviation by restoring and flying vintage helicopters like the Huey.

“Over the past nine years, I have been asked many times why you and the Friends of Army Aviation do what you do, and I simply refer them to the 58,000-plus names on the wall. Every member of this organization has committed to ensuring that those individuals will never be forgotten.” 

The ceremony concluded with the reading of the names of individuals from the Pike County community who died in combat, spanning from World War I to Operation Iraqi Freedom. A wreath was also placed at the monument on the wall, showcasing the names of our fallen heroes. In closing, “Taps” was played in honor of the soldiers, signifying ‘lights out” and serving as a tribute to those who gave their lives in the line of duty.