American Legion Post to Hold Memorial Day Ceremony

WINNSBORO — The public is invited to join American Legion Post 340 members at Memorial Park located at the intersections of Coke Road and Main Street on May 29, 2023, for a Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony. The event will begin at 11 AM and last approximately an hour. 

This year’s guest speaker will be Legionnaire David Hightower. David Hightower is a Winnsboro native, and retired from the United States Air Force, at the rank of Master Sgt, having served more than twenty years of honorable service. 

Sgt Hightower enlisted in the Air Force in 1979 as a psychiatric medic, his support of the people in various world conflicts took him from Germany to Guam, and from Japan to England. He worked with Cubans refugees during their Mario Boatlift, hostages as they returned from Iran, weathered 7 typhoons while in the Pacific, and was always there for others. Sgt Hightower was used as an example to teach leadership to other NCOs when with the 17th Air Force Non-Commissioned Officer Leadership School. His career culminated in serving as a First Sergeant with the 59th Medical Wing, then the largest Air Force medical asset, with 20 squadrons, consisting of 3000 enlisted, 2000 officers, and 1000 civilians. 

Sgt Hightower’s awards include the Air Force Humanitarian Service medal, the Commendation medal with four oak leaf clusters, and a Meritorious Service medal with one oak leaf cluster. 

Sgt Hightower has been married to his high school sweetheart Cindy for 50 years. They have three children, Mary Anne who is today a Colonel in the Air Force, Jeff who became a marine, and Katie who has a family and lives in Winnsboro. 

Memorial Day had its origins after the Civil War when Decoration Day was held to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers. New York was the first state to designate Memorial Day as a legal holiday with many more states observing it by the late 1800s. Congress eventually passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act in 1971 establishing the last Monday in May as Memorial Day. 

For more information about the American Legion or joining the Carl E. Azebell Post 340 check out the website at www.alpost340.com and their Facebook page. Contact the post at (214) 502-4496 for more information. The Legion meets every first Tuesday of the month at 5:30 PM at the Post Headquarters, 201 West Broadway, Winnsboro, Texas.