Pictured are (from left) Derrick Roberts, Ike Reeves, Linda Lundie, Sean Martin, Richard Lundie and Larry Hume.
February 14, 2025 - Members of VFW Post 8904 and Auxiliary gathered at the Shelby County Veterans Memorial located at the Historic Shelby County Courthouse on the Center square in honor of the USS Maine and its crew on February 14, 2025.
Richard Lundie, Post Chaplain, gave the opening prayer and Larry Hume, Post Adjutant, shared the history of the USS Maine and the tragedy which was the beginning of the Spanish-American War.
"127 years ago, February 15, 1898, the USS Maine exploded in the harbor of Havana, Cuba. 266 American crewmen and Marines were killed. Now, Spain was blamed for the explosion and the Spanish-American War began as a result. The war was very short, less than four months later on August 12, 1898 the United States had won a decisive victory. This was the first war that the United States had ever fought beyond its shores. 3,000 American military were lost, but mostly from Yellow and Typhoid fever and fighting in the jungles in the Philippine-American War that followed. Teddy Roosevelt of Roughrider fame told his troops as they mustered out, 'Enjoy the next 15 days, because after that you will be forgotten,' and they were, and because of the United States Government's refusal of proper medical care, the veterans banded together in organizations that would eventually become the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. Today, we are here to remember the lives lost so long ago in the explosion of the Maine and the Spanish-American War that ensued, and we thank them for their service, just as we thank the veterans of all wars."
Ike Reeves, Post member, placed the Memorial wreath on the Shelby County Veterans Memorial.
Hume stated Shelby County, Texas has participated in all wars and six veterans can be connected to the Spanish-American War. According to Hume, Elijah Webb who was born in Center in 1866, was killed in the Philippines. He voluntarily enlisted at the beginning of the Spanish-American War. Webb was first in Cuba and then was sent to Manila, Philippines with Company H of the 44th U.S. Volunteer Infantry.
"While the Spanish-American War ended in August 1898, the first Philippine Republic objected to the terms under which the United States took possession of the Philippines and the fighting continued until July 2, 1902," said Hume. "Now during this fighting in the Philippines, Elijah was killed on June 16, 1900, and his body was returned [to Shelby County] for burial in August 1901."
Hume referenced a Houston Post article from August 8, 1901, "On the large box which held the metallic coffin with his name, the number of his company and the cause of his death, which stated on the box a knife wound to the head. It went on to say that Leige had many friends here and a good crowd witnessed the casket in which rested his remains."
Webb was buried in what was known as the Center cemetery, but is now known as the Methodist cemetery located behind the First United Methodist Church on Porter Street.
Others from Shelby County who served and survived the Spanish-American War included Edwin Booth who is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Timpson; Brunson Cline who is buried in Carroll Cemetery; Charles Hudson who is buried in the Corinth Cemetery; Charlie Matlock who is buried in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery; and James Mosby Jr. who is buried in Fairview Cemetery in Center.
"Today we can honor these local veterans and all those who are forefathers of our great organization by continuing to fight for veterans rights, and benefits, just as they did," said Hume.
In their honor, Taps was then sounded as presented by Derrick Roberts, Post Jr. Vice.
