Breckenridge Texan

Family, friends, community members and others gathered at the Stephens County Courthouse in downtown Breckenridge on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, to honor local veterans who passed away during 2025. Several veterans who died in previous years were also honored as part of the ceremony.

Each year, the county adds the names of veterans who have passed away during the previous year to the memorial stone markers at the veteran’s monument in front of the courthouse.

Those attending the Stephens County Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 25, bow their heads in prayer as the Rev. Don Bearden, right, gives the invocation. Click here to see more photos from the event. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

The annual ceremony on the courthouse lawn opened with the flag presentation by Kason Burchett and Brian Kight, followed by the national anthem performed by Denise Thompson and the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Roy James, commander of VFW Post 7767. The Rev. Don Bearden gave the invocation.

Stephens County Judge Will Thompson served as the guest speaker, telling the crowd that Memorial Day is a sacred moment of remembrance.

“We do not gather simply for a holiday, but for a sacred moment of remembrance,” Thompson said. “With Memorial Day, we pause not to celebrate war or glorify conflict, but to honor courage and to remember sacrifice. Memorial Day is set aside for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms, those who died in service to our country. Today we honor those heroes. We remember the men and women who ran toward danger and never came home.”

Thompson reflected on the personal lives behind the names etched on the memorial stones.

“These were real people. They laughed at jokes, they shared stories, they had favorite meals and favorite songs,” he said. “And somewhere, someone remembers their handwriting or the sound of their voice or how they entered a room.”

Stephens County Judge Will Thompson, right, talks to the crowd attending the Memorial Day ceremony about the veterans being honored, as well as about the meaning of the holiday. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

He also addressed the families of veterans in attendance.

“To the families who were here today, many of you knew these veterans not as soldiers, but as husbands and wives, as fathers and mothers, as grandparents, as friends, or as children,” Thompson said. “You know the person behind the service, and today is a time to remember that, to remember and to celebrate.”

He said the memorial stones outside the courthouse serve as a daily reminder of the sacrifices made by local veterans.

“These stones were placed in front of our courthouse for a reason,” Thompson said. “This is where our community conducts daily business, business of justice, of self-government, the things these veterans serve to protect. Every citizen who walks up these steps – to serve on a jury, file a deed, get married, seek justice – passes all these names. They’re reminded that our freedoms were defended by people who lived right here in Stephens County.”

The ceremony included the reading of veterans’ names that were added to the memorial this year. County Commissioner Mark McCullough read the names of veterans who died in 2025, as well as the names of some veterans who died in 2024 and other years and were inadvertently left off of the monument. Brian Kight rang a bell as each name was read. (See the list of names below.)

Mason Woolsey plays taps during the Stephens County Memorial Day ceremony. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Following the reading of the names, Les Strickland, a retired U.S. Marine and the Stephens County Veterans Service Officer, explained the military honors traditionally given at veterans’ funerals.

“When a veteran passes away, at graveside there’s three honors that each veteran receives,” Strickland said. “First of all, the firing of the rifle, three volleys in his honor. Second, we play taps, and third, we fold the flag that the veteran served so long, and we present that flag to the family. Each family here, whose (family member’s) name is on the wall, has already received a flag, so we will not do that today. But we will do a rifle salute and play taps.”

After the rifle salute by Wayne Chapman and Dave Smelser, Mason Woolsey played taps.

Closing the ceremony, Strickland thanked those in attendance and encouraged continued support for veterans and active-duty military personnel.

“Remember the veterans that have passed and the ones that are serving now,” Strickland said. “To the ones being deployed, we pray for safety and comfort for them and their families. We thank you.”

In addition to the ceremony, the Abilene Vet Center’s Mobile Unit was in Breckenridge on Memorial Day. John Draper, veteran outreach program specialist, was on hand to provide information about benefits and services available to U.S. military veterans.

Strickland said he wants to thank the Stephens County Commissioners who were instrumental in supporting and organizing the Memorial Day celebration.

On Saturday, May 23, about 35 volunteers helped Strickland and Jim Merson put flags on the graves of veterans buried in the Breckenridge Cemetery. Click here to read more about that.

Stephens County Veterans Service Officer Les Strickland, left, VFW Post 7767 Commander Roy James and others salute as Denise Thompson, right, sings the national anthem. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

2026 Veterans Monument Engravings

2025

Ellison Harkley
George Marshall Fuller
Ryan Neal Wagnon
Don Michael Easley
Joe Earl Fisher
Weldon Cooper Little, Jr.
Larry Gene Hollingsworth
Jesse Leo Littlefield
Charles Ray Elich
George Edward Credicott
George William Taylor
Joe Luna Martinez
Tommy Wimberley
John Riley Swinney
William Walter Harrison, Sr.

2024

James Stephens Creagh II
Brady Tennison, Jr.
Kenneth Dwain Brannan
Gary Lee Grose
Dale Ervin Salisbury
Jerry Todd Boyd
Bobby Dan Waggoner
John Edward Phillips
Robert Allen Satterwhite
Thomas Deverle Stanford
George Wayne Mayfield
Eddie Richard Squyers
Donald Paul Rodgers, Sr.
Larry Don Markham
Gary Mike Rogers
Jimmy Lee Easter

Previous Years

Johnny L. Pardue (2019)
Coy Leslie Bagsley (2017)

Click here to see the Breckenridge Texan’s Photo Gallery from the 2026 Memorial Day Ceremony.

U.S. Navy veteran Burrell McElvain attended this year’s Memorial Day Ceremony at the Stephens County Courthouse. The monument includes the names of local veterans who have died. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

John Draper, veteran outreach program specialist, left, speaks with Burrell McElvain, right, and others at the Abilene Vet Center’s Mobile Unit, which he brought to Breckenridge for the Memorial Day Ceremony. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Cutline, top photo: Veterans Wayne Chapman, center, and Dave Smelser, right, give the rifle salute during the Memorial Day Ceremony at the Stephens County Courthouse. Click here to see more photos from the ceremony in the Breckenridge Texan’s Photo Gallery. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)