May 9, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
A DeKalb County Memorial Day Observance will be held Monday, May 26 at the County Complex Auditorium starting with patriotic music at 9:30 a.m. followed by the program at 10 a.m.
The guest speaker will be Captain Larry D. Cripps, Retired Navy Chaplain, Author of the “The Hope of War”.
Following the program, a wreath will be laid at the Veterans Memorial Monument at the Courthouse. All veterans, families, and citizens are invited to the program to honor the fallen and those veterans who have passed.
Captain, a distinguished retired Navy Chaplain, grew up in the Blue Springs community and brings a wealth of experience and insight from his forty-two years of military service spanning three wars: Vietnam, Desert Shield/Desert Storm, and the post-9/11 War on Terror. His unique perspective and captivating stories reflect his military journey and highlight Smithville’s rich heritage.
Larry’s book, “The Hope of War: A Chaplain’s Journey to Abiding Faith, Enduring Hope and Love Under Fire,” was released by Emissary Publishing on Memorial Day weekend last year. The book chronicles the life of a small-town farm boy growing up against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, and the cultural revolution of the 1960s and early 1970s.