Korean War veteran Bob Bland remembers

Korean War veteran Bob Bland reads the names of those who have served in American wars at the Lubbock Area Veterans War Memorial Thursday, May 21, 2009. Bland is the current commander of the VFW Post 2466 in Lubbock.

May 21, 2009 (Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
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1st Sgt. Robert Nelson Bland - a career Marine and combat veteran of the Korean War - essentially observes Memorial Day all year long.

"It is having the privilege of honoring our fallen veterans," he said of the official Memorial Day event observed by the nation.

But as a volunteer in the American Legion, he continues a celebration of veterans' service by commanding the gripping 21-gun salute at funerals held for veterans across the South Plains in every month of every year.

Bland volunteered for service in the Marine Corps June 30, 1947, less than two years after World War II ended.

"I did a three-year cruise in the Marine Corps, and was released on the 29th of June in 1950, but at that time the Korean War had already been in progress for about four days.

"At midnight of the day I received my discharge, all discharges were frozen, and all Marines were held on active duty."... (Continue reading Ray Westbrook's story: Korea veteran still serving his country)