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By BETTY F. JONES

News Correspondent

JACKSON – “What is a Veteran?”

That was the question posed by James L. Peebles, US Army Sgt. First Class (Retired) who served as the featured speaker at a Veterans Day ceremony held here Monday at the old Northampton County Courthouse in Jackson.

“A veteran is someone who at one point in his or her life wrote a blank check payable to The United States of America for the amount of up to and including their own lives,” said Peebles, answering his own question.

Peebles, raised on a farm in Margarettsville and graduated from Northampton High School in 1979, has an expansive military and work career showing his commitment to the United States of America.

He enlisted in the US Military Police Corps and served in many leadership positions.

He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by the Secretary of Defense for outstanding meritorious achievement and service to the United States.

He continued his career in law enforcement as a federal Police Officer at the Supreme Court of the United States. As Watch Commander and Police Administrative Lieutenant, he commanded two police shifts and managed the daily operations of the police administration for 156 police officers. On his special assignment of Domestic Security Travel Coordinator, he worked jointly with the United States Marshall Service in coordination dignitary protection and security travel for the Supreme Court Justices. Performing his duties in an exemplary manner, he was awarded the Court’s special award Honorary Attorney and Counselor for the Supreme Court of the United States. He is now a member of the Bar of the Court in good standing.

He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Management, a Master of Science degree in Administration and Human Resources Management. He is a graduate of the Police Executive Development of Basic and Advanced Courses, Death Investigation Course, Active Threat Response Course.

At Monday’s event, Peebles stated how deeply honored and humbled he was to spend the day with everyone, including the 31 veterans who were in attendance.

“There are no words that I can say that will sufficiently honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans, he stated.

Upon being asked to be the guest speaker for this year’s Veterans Day ceremony, Peebles said to gain perspective of the opportunity, he got in his car and drove to Jackson.

“I stood in front of this courthouse at the sacred Northampton County Veterans Memorial that was dedicated on December 12, 1992,” he noted. “The words [on the Memorial] ‘To the Honor and Memory of all Northampton County Veterans who have served our county – during war and peacetime’ touched my heart. It meant so much to me, that a sacred place had been dedicated and forever etched into stone for the service members from this county who left home to protect freedom and democracy.”

He acknowledged that today is a special day of recognition where individuals can honor all veterans from all branches of the military who gave up their freedom to protect freedom.

He called on the veterans to please stand and be recognized.

“I salute you,” he said. “We sacrificed it all. President Ronald Reagan said it best and I paraphrase, we gave up two lives, the life we were living and the life we would have lived.”

Peebles said there is a long list of so many things that many veterans didn’t get to do.

“A few of these were many didn’t get to live to become old, to see family and loved ones again when they left home,” he stated. “Many didn’t get to have children or to see their children born. Many didn’t get to throw their son his first ball or take their daughter to her first school dance.”

On the other hand, Peebles stressed that many returned home with mental and physical challenges.

“Those challenges affected what was once a normal life for families,” he said. “Spouses and family members were forced to take on new roles, often overwhelmed because they didn’t understand the behavioral changes associated with our traumas from war or conflict.”

He went on to say, “Let us not forget” pausing to let the audience grasp the meaning behind these mighty words honoring our veterans. “Let us not forget the sacrifices and hardships, soldiers and their families endured during wartime when we left them for long periods of time. Let us not forget the sacrifice families themselves endured during peacetime when soldiers were deployed overseas on secret missions without them. Let us not forget our families had to wear two hats, often taking on additional duties and responsibilities of being both mom and dad while the veteran was away defending our freedom. Let us not forget that they do a noble thing, by serving our country.”

He pointed out that many came home and continue to suffer from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome).

“As a veteran myself, I have been diagnosed with PTSD,” he said. “Many of us who served, on and off the battlefield are proud of our service, yet we are wounded warriors hiding in plain sight and suffering in silence from non-combat and combat PTSD.

“The physical effects of what we encounter or see or may have seen from traumatic events we witness firsthand, on and off the battlefield, are almost immediate,” Peebles continued. “The emotional and psychological effects from what we witnessed comes later, sometimes years later. Our wounds are not always on the surface and visible to the naked eye. We walk amongst the general population everyday suffering in silence while living with raging thunderstorms wreaking havoc in our lives.”

Peebles said Veterans Day, to him, is a time of reflection and profound gratitude.

“We were all united by the flag of the United States of America,” he said proudly. “We stood beside and with each other, even when we didn’t always agree with each other’s views. We understood the importance of our sacred fraternity and that was to always have each other’s back.

“I am proud to say the United States Armed Forces is the best fraternity I have ever joined,” Peebles added. “We may have worn different uniforms and served in different branches of the military, but there is no stronger common bond than the brotherhood and sisterhood we share together.”

In closing, Peebles emphasized that Americans need not to ever forget the true cost of war and who carries the burden of that cost.

“To those who came out to support us today, we say thank you,” he said. “Whenever you see a veteran or someone who has served our country, just say these two little words, eight letters….thank you.

“To my fellow veterans, on your darkest days when it seems like there is no hope, when it seems as if there is no light at the end of the tunnel, when it seems as if the weight of the world is too much for you to bare or carry, turn to God. In Isaiah 46:4 you will find these words of comfort: ‘Even to your old age and gray hairs, I will carry you. I will sustain you and I will rescue you.’ You have worn your “Badge of Honor – the military uniform” with distinct honor and pride. You have made the sacrifice and because of your blood, your sweat and your tears, you have earned the right to be called a veteran. May we never forget that the price of freedom is never free,” he closed.

Following the laying of the wreath, Taps was played by the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard. Closing remarks were given by Richard Pait (US Army Retired, the Northampton Veterans Service Officer). He invited Mia Odom, Robert Ryan Flucas, and Peebles to the podium where they were each presented with an appreciation plaque.

Rev. Mevin Ramsey (US Navy veteran) led the benediction.

Piat then concluded the ceremony thanking everyone for attending and inviting all veterans to go the Northampton County Wellness Center for a lunch put on by the Northampton Veterans Advocacy Commission.

At the opening of the ceremony, the Sheriff’s Honor Guard posted the colors; Odom led a rendition of the National Anthem; and Flucas led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.