Monitor Photo/Di Johnson
Sarah Maples Chapter of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) members show their support for local veterans at the start of the group’s annual Veterans Day program Nov. 11 at the Mabank veteran memorial wall.

Monitor Photo/Di Johnson
A Mabank Explorer assists veteran Sandy Carroll off the stage after her reading her poetry, including one from a mother’s perspective who loses her son to the war. 

Monitor Photo/Di Johnson
Local Vietnam veteran and renowned poet Sandy Carroll (back row, right) delivers a poem entitled “Taps.”

MABANK– The Sarah Maples Chapter of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) hosted its annual Veterans Day event at the Mabank veteran memorial wall Nov. 11.
The event had a turnout of approximately 50 people to honor veterans both living and passed. Festivities began with a warm welcome and pledges of allegiance before moving on to the honors for local veterans. The Mabank Police Department provided refreshments and Mabank Explorers, junior future officers, were on hand to assist veterans with getting on and off stage, as well as displaying flags for our military.
Veterans of all wars were honored, including World War II and Korean War veteran Victor Chaney who was honored individually. A recently passed World War II veteran, Richard Lee, was also honored at the event, with daughter and NSDAR member Linda Mynar accepting his recognition for him.
Each veteran present at the event was given a commemorative pin and a ticket for a drawing with the prize of a “Proud Veteran” flag.
Susan Cothran delivered a speech on Jackye Brant, the woman behind the memorial wall. Brant is a Navy veteran and former teacher who felt greater recognition of vets in the area was needed. She petitioned local government and with the support of Mabank leaders and the community, the veteran memorial wall was erected.
It has been nearly 20 years since this accomplishment, and since then, NSDAR has held this celebration at the wall each year, along with festivities for Memorial Day and other days of military recognition.
Local Vietnam veteran and renowned poet Sandy Carroll brought one of the Explorers onto the stage with her, stating that these children are our future. She delivered two poems on military life, one from the point of view of a mother whose young son has tragically died in war and one entitled “Taps.”
Those in attendance then lined up to place wreaths on the memorial wall in honor of their loved ones who had served. Taps were played in honor of the fallen.