Most Patriotic Small Town in America

[Pick6]

As voted on by Rand McNally and USA Today...Gainesville, Tx

Even though I have not lived there in years, I am proud to be able to call my hometown "The Most Patriotic Small Town in America".

[Bullaholic]

You should be proud, Pick6. Quite an honor for Gainesville. Congrats. It saddens me that there are too many American citizens who probably do not consider this an honor worthy of note. Thank God there are many who still do, everyday.

[toddg]

As voted on by Rand McNally and USA Today...Gainesville, Tx

Even though I have not lived there in years, I am proud to be able to call my hometown "The Most Patriotic Small Town in America".


:cheerl:

[Pick6]

You should be proud, Pick6. Quite an honor for Gainesville. Congrats. It saddens me that there are too many American citizens who probably do not consider this an honor worthy of note. Thank God there are many who still do, everyday.

Hey Bull, I'll meet you over there next March/April and you can see what this man is describing...

It is not always easy to close down a small family-owned business in the middle of the week but there is a need, a deep need, to be somewhere else. I need to find a spot along the highway, a spot where I can get a great view of the motorcade due any minute.
It is not just any motorcade but a convoy formed for one purpose. Hundreds of police cars, motorcycles, fire trucks and buses stretching more than eight miles are escorting a group of special people, recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor to my town, Gainesville, Texas.
Our own ladder truck is atop an overpass, apparatus fully extended with the largest American flag in town streaming from the top. There is no traffic on the interstate because the co-operative efforts of law enforcement officials throughout North Texas have seen to it nothing hinders the journey of these reluctant heroes.
While in Gainesville these men will meet with our school children, eat at our restaurants, be feted at a large banquet and star in a long parade in their honor. Almost to a man they will say they were not thinking of medals when they lived through that specific moment that earned them their award. They will say these memories should be dedicated to the ones who got their medals posthumously.
Finally the flashing lights appear in the distance and the crowd is hushed, watching the approach. A hollow feeling begins in the pit of the stomach. Tears start to form in the corners of each eye. The bus carrying the special guests goes by.
We may not know those men now, but we will before they leave on Sunday and they will know many of us.
The nice thing is, we get to relive this thrilling scene next year because we live in Gainesville, Texas, the only town in the United States designated Medal of Honor Host City. It is what we do.

[Bullaholic]

Hey Bull, I'll meet you over there next March/April and you can see what this man is describing...

It is not always easy to close down a small family-owned business in the middle of the week but there is a need, a deep need, to be somewhere else. I need to find a spot along the highway, a spot where I can get a great view of the motorcade due any minute.
It is not just any motorcade but a convoy formed for one purpose. Hundreds of police cars, motorcycles, fire trucks and buses stretching more than eight miles are escorting a group of special people, recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor to my town, Gainesville, Texas.
Our own ladder truck is atop an overpass, apparatus fully extended with the largest American flag in town streaming from the top. There is no traffic on the interstate because the co-operative efforts of law enforcement officials throughout North Texas have seen to it nothing hinders the journey of these reluctant heroes.
While in Gainesville these men will meet with our school children, eat at our restaurants, be feted at a large banquet and star in a long parade in their honor. Almost to a man they will say they were not thinking of medals when they lived through that specific moment that earned them their award. They will say these memories should be dedicated to the ones who got their medals posthumously.
Finally the flashing lights appear in the distance and the crowd is hushed, watching the approach. A hollow feeling begins in the pit of the stomach. Tears start to form in the corners of each eye. The bus carrying the special guests goes by.
We may not know those men now, but we will before they leave on Sunday and they will know many of us.
The nice thing is, we get to relive this thrilling scene next year because we live in Gainesville, Texas, the only town in the United States designated Medal of Honor Host City. It is what we do.

Wow, what a fantastic tribute for a bunch of individuals who more than deserve every accolade we can give them. For those of you who have never had the opportunity to read any of the accounts of the actions for which these individuals were awarded our country's highest honor, please do so, and you will understand why Gainesville, TX does this each year. Thanks, Pick6 for sharing this article.

[Bullaholic]

Here is the website that has the citations:

http://www.history.army.mil/moh.html

[defense51]

Semper Fi !!!

[bobcat1]

Hey Bull, I'll meet you over there next March/April and you can see what this man is describing...

It is not always easy to close down a small family-owned business in the middle of the week but there is a need, a deep need, to be somewhere else. I need to find a spot along the highway, a spot where I can get a great view of the motorcade due any minute.
It is not just any motorcade but a convoy formed for one purpose. Hundreds of police cars, motorcycles, fire trucks and buses stretching more than eight miles are escorting a group of special people, recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor to my town, Gainesville, Texas.
Our own ladder truck is atop an overpass, apparatus fully extended with the largest American flag in town streaming from the top. There is no traffic on the interstate because the co-operative efforts of law enforcement officials throughout North Texas have seen to it nothing hinders the journey of these reluctant heroes.
While in Gainesville these men will meet with our school children, eat at our restaurants, be feted at a large banquet and star in a long parade in their honor. Almost to a man they will say they were not thinking of medals when they lived through that specific moment that earned them their award. They will say these memories should be dedicated to the ones who got their medals posthumously.
Finally the flashing lights appear in the distance and the crowd is hushed, watching the approach. A hollow feeling begins in the pit of the stomach. Tears start to form in the corners of each eye. The bus carrying the special guests goes by.
We may not know those men now, but we will before they leave on Sunday and they will know many of us.
The nice thing is, we get to relive this thrilling scene next year because we live in Gainesville, Texas, the only town in the United States designated Medal of Honor Host City. It is what we do.Absolutely awesome Pick6. Thanks for sharing this with us.