Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009

Belleville marks Veterans Day with bomber fly-over, flags

Belleville observed Veterans Day late Wednesday morning with patriotic songs, speeches and lots of flags and veterans.

And Wednesday night the Boy Scouts paid tribute to vets and retired worn flags.

And on the 11th minute of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, a World War II Navy Scout bomber flew over the Public Square to mark the moment when the previous world war ended.

Veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War and current service members crowded the square, which was closed to traffic during the ceremony. School children read their tributes to the military veterans and the aging vets snapped salutes.

Large flags hung from the courthouse and fire truck extension ladders while smaller ones were clutched in children's fists and tucked in veterans' caps.

U.S. Air Force Col. Gary Goldstone, commander of the 375th Air Mobility Wing at Scott Air Force Base, spoke of service and duty.

Two Marines solemnly marched a red wreath up to the Veterans Memorial on the square.

The Boy Scouts at 6 p.m. Thursday help a ceremony to retire flags at St. Mary's Catholic Church. They saluted the flags and burned them. At the end a bugler played "Taps" and the Polish-American War Veterans fired a salute.

The old flag that had flown at St. Mary's was replaced by a flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol Building.