Monument Terrace Troop Rally and Council Meeting

A group of Lynchburg veterans met during harsh rain and tornado warnings for the 903rd week of the Monument Terrace Troop Rally. 

During the rally they had their weekly flag ceremony, where the group honors their friends who have fallen in combat and those who have passed away due to other circumstances. 

Troop rally co-organizer David Stokes spoke about why the troop rally is important to the group, pointing to two flags that were ripped in multiple places and told a story that gave insight into the impact the veterans have had. 

“These two American flags were flown in combat during the beginning of the war on terrorism. They were presented to us by the pilots and some have asked why we keep a tattered flag. It’s tattered for a reason. They show the sacrifice of our troops and also show we’re not going anywhere.” 

After the ceremony, people piled into a building next to the terrace to get out of the inclement weather. Each attendee was greeted with hot chocolate, donuts and ham biscuits to satisfy their hunger while they met and discussed upcoming plans on their agenda. 

The group of around 60 consistent members have been meeting at the same place and time since Nov. 30, 2001, and the troop rally president explained the significance of that date. 

“For the Vietnam veterans, our motto is ‘one generation of veterans will not turn their back on another,’” said Stokes. “Everybody knows where they were on 9/11, but no seems to know about Nov. 30. That’s when President Bush sent troops over to Afghanistan. And we decided to get involved and show our military awareness.”

They have been meeting every week since. The troop rally has given out 3,300 challenge coins, which are tokens to show the significance of an event and have been visited by people from 37 countries. 

Currently, the group is working to install sidewalk bricks that families can have veteran’s names engraved, and troop rally member Joe Hobbs said this future project will continue to help the veterans leave a tangible reminder for future generations.

“We’re going to tear up a square on the sidewalk and write down all of the names of the veterans who have visited us, their branch of service and years served,” said Hobbs. “We want it to be like a walk of remembrance for these families. Each square will hold 275 bricks. It will be an extension of monument terrace and the meaning behind that.” 

Although many of the regular veterans fought in the Vietnam War, troop rally president Steve Boseman hopes to inspire the younger generation and encourage them to join the community and carry on the legacy they fought so hard for. 

“Our young people, that’s our future. When we were in Washington D.C. at the Vietnam Memorial, a group of middle schoolers came by and shook everyone’s hand,” said Boseman. “Yet we’ve also had high schoolers look at us and laugh and make jokes to be disrespectful. There seems like there’s no reverence for the military anymore from some.”

Despite the mixed reactions of young people, he hopes that groups like the troop rally will demonstrate how important supporting the military is. 

“I want to encourage people to show up and ask questions,” said Boseman. “Get into a conversation with a veteran and I guarantee you it will change a lot of people’s perspectives.”