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City remembers fallen with early Memorial Day observance

May 30, 2025

Harker Heights Herald

By: Thaddeus Imerman Herald Correspondent

In many ways, the annual Memorial Day service at Harker Heights’ Carl Levin Park, held Saturday — before the day designated to commemorate the nation’s fallen — was different, but the reverence was still there, evident from those who participated.

One way in which last Saturday was different than in years past was that neither retired Master Sgt. Robert Whitney nor Mayor Michael Blomquist led the lap around the park.

This year, that honor fell to retired Maj. James Wright, known affectionately around the area and on Fort Cavazos as “The Old Ranger.”

“Most people don’t realize that when we come out here, we’re here for the fallen that aren’t here anymore,” Wright said as he returned from the lap. “The veterans want to remember them, so that’s why we come out.”

Wright led the lap in the stead of Blomquist, who is recovering from a medical procedure (though he offered remarks during the service), and Whitney, who, terminally ill with cancer at 90 years old, figures this will be his last Memorial Day service.

Despite the recent diagnosis, Whitney was upbeat and even helped carry the wreath to the front of the amphitheater with retired Sgt. 1st Class Marty Martinez.

Having retired in 1977, Whitney has still been of service and has walked with Martinez in every parade in the area since the ’90s.

Whitney could be seen adorned in a vintage uniform of the U.S. Armed Forces while carrying an American flag. In his role as the “Lone Soldier,” Whitney represented veterans of all of the armed forces.

“I did it because I know it’s my duty,” he said Saturday.

Whitney said he has entrusted the duties of carrying on the role of the “Lone Soldier” to the Harker Heights City Council and to Wright.

Wright, who does physical training with soldiers on post and dines with them for breakfast in the dining facilities, said he was asked to lead the walk last Saturday.

“I’m with soldiers every morning doing PT — I run with them,” he said. “They knew that — some of the people here that just retired — so they wanted me to come out and advertise this so that I could be with the older veterans and get them to walk with me and follow me.”

Saturday’s service featured Chaparral High School student Zachary Repine, an incoming senior, who sang the national anthem.

He said the opportunity to participate in the way he did was “amazing.”

Wright, who does physical training with soldiers on post and dines with them for breakfast in the dining facilities, said he was asked to lead the walk last Saturday.

Saturday’s service featured Chaparral High School student Zachary Repine, an incoming senior, who sang the national anthem.

He said the opportunity to participate in the way he did was “amazing.”

“I think it’s a wonderful chance to get to see what they actually do,” Repine said after the service. “My dad and my mom were actually in the military and they used to do stuff like this all the time, so knowing the stuff and now getting to do it, it’s awesome.”

Memorial Day became an officially recognized holiday in 1971 when U.S. Congress directed it be celebrated on the last Monday of May.

Though only officially recognized for 54 years, the day has historical roots back to the aftermath of the Civil War, when, according to Carry the Load, ceremonies were held to memorialize Union and Confederate soldiers who were killed in combat.

Gen. John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, declared May 5, 1868, as the first such national observance, then known as “Decoration Day.”

Because the day honors those who lost their lives in service to the country, the day has significant meaning to Shawn Marsland, who spent four of his 20 years in the United States Coast Guard.

“I knew people that lost their lives saving other people’s lives during maritime safety (operation), so it gives me a chance to reflect on those people I may have known in school … 20 years ago,” said Marsland, who retired from the Army and is the commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3892 in Harker Heights.

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