|
By Leon G. Russ
HOMETOWN NEWS
The annual tradition of a small southern town paying tribute to aging war heroes once again played out this past weekend as the Town of Cowpens celebrated with its 32nd Annual Mighty Moo Festival.
While families enjoyed their time together watching the parade, riding the carnival rides, competing in hot dog eating contests and egg tossing games, checked out the car show, listened to singers and watched dancers perform during the three day event, there was no doubt who the stars of the celebration were.
The crewmembers of the USS Cowpens (CVL-25), some hobbling on canes and in walkers, some in wheelchairs, while others seemed as spry as when they were young men, were all still able to offer a sharp return salute when acknowledged by the prospective commander of the USS Cowpens (CG-63), Captain Rob Marin at the end of the Veterans Walk of Honor and Remembrance.
It was an awe-inspiring sight to see those old salts straighten and stand tall once again. But their numbers are dwindling with each passing year. This year the names of 25 crewmembers that passed on were read at the Friday night dinner.
The outpouring of love and respect for those that serve wasn’t lost on Capt. Marin. He said, “This is fantastic. I’m humbled by this.”
He continued, “There’s nothing in the Navy like this. There’s no other community like this.”
Marin said other events are held around the country but they are smaller and attended by military members only. He was astounded by the Cowpens community’s support for the men who served, and who still serve today, on the USS Cowpens.
Of the former sailors he noted, “They are young at heart and they’re still sharp. They remember everything that happened on that ship.”
Carswell Wynne of Warner Robbins, Georgia served on the USS Cowpens (CVL-25) and was back at the Mighty Moo Festival for the 22nd year in a row.
He reported as a Plane Captain in May 1945. He was onboard when it made bombing runs on Wake Island and Yokosuka, Japan.
Seeing all the smiling faces and drinking in the warm applause during his time here Wynne said, “It’s just a wonderful thing.”
He went on, “The people in Cowpens, I just can’t get over the way they open up their homes and hearts to us.”
Wynne related much about his time onboard the Cowpens but he seemed most proud of the fact that “we led the whole Third Fleet into Tokyo Bay. We were the first American carrier to ever go into Tokyo Bay.”
Brenda Adair, Chairwoman of the Cowpens Historical Committee, explained why so many come out for the Mighty Moo. “The Town of Cowpens is very patriotic. We love our military and we support them in any way we can.”
She recalled the event began as a one-day affair back in 1977 “and it just grew and grew from there.”
She believes the crewmembers keep coming back because “they love us as much as we love them.”
Indeed Wynne echoed Adair when he said the family he stays with every year has become his second family and they stay in touch year round.
He was buoyed by the fact that the current USS Cowpens was named after his ship and that crewmembers of that ship turned out for the event as well. Wynne said he expects Cowpens to continue to honor those crewmembers in the future.
“I don’t think this town will ever quit (honoring crewmembers),” he said, “they just keep on keeping on.”
lruss@hometown-news.com
 Email This Post
|
