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Houston pays tribute to veterans
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Special to the Herald
Elmore County District Attorney Randall Houston had the honor of paying his formal respects to the sacrifice of America’s veterans in foreign wars by placing a wreath before the Tomb of the Unknowns located at Arlington National Cemetery.
Along with Houston, District Attorneys Steve Marshall, Michael Jackson and Chris McCool participated in the ceremony.
The Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., is also known as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and has never been officially named. The Tomb of the Unknowns stands atop a hill overlooking Washington, D.C.
On March 4, 1921, Congress approved the burial of an unidentified American soldier from World War I in the plaza of the new Memorial Amphitheater. The remains of Unknowns from World War II and Korea are also interred in the plaza.
The remains of the Vietnam Unknown were exhumed May 14, 1998, and identified as the remains as those of Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie. It has been decided that the crypt that contained the remains of the Vietnam Unknown will remain vacant.
Houston is a veteran of the United States Air Force where he served four years prior to attending law school at the University of Alabama.
Houston’s father-in-law, Lt. Col. Charles Raymond Stith, was a highly decorated soldier receiving the Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge and Purple Heart. He was a veteran of both World War II and the Korean Conflict and served in the US Army until his retirement in 1963. Lt. Col. Stith was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in May 2001.
In reference to the privilege of participating in this memorial offering, Houston said, “Standing on such hallowed ground surrounded by fallen heroes makes one aware that freedom is never free. It is a tremendous honor to have been asked to participate in such a ceremony.”
