Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

On Monday, the town of Norwood took time to pay tribute to its native sons who made the ultimate sacrifice in wartime service to the United States. Members of the Norwood First United Methodist Church, Norwood VFW Post 6183 and numerous community leaders participated in a service of remembrance at the church.
First Lt. James Paul Lowder Jr., who lost his life exactly 80 years prior, had been a member of First Methodist Church, where his mother served as the church organist. His legacy had led the Norwood VFW Post to be named in his honor in 1946, after which the town established a “Sister City” partnership with Jouarre, France, where his P-51 fighter plane crashed returning from a mission in Germany.
The service also included remembrance of all Norwood veterans who had lost their lives in military service during World Wars I and II, as well as Vietnam.
Following a welcome from First Methodist Pastor Kelly Crissman and Norwood Mayor Pro-Tem James Lilly, the Air Force Junior ROTC Color Guard from West Stanly High School presented the colors, after which former Norwood mayor and town councilman Larry McMahon encouraged those gathered to assure that veterans are both thanked and remembered.
“We are the generation that will preserve the memories of what happened in the past,” he said. “I urge you all to make that happen.”
McMahon also reminded those in attendance at the service that liberty comes at a cost.
“Freedom is not free,” he said.
Graeme Wright, who was instrumental in acting as an intermediary between representatives of Norwood and Jouarre, delivered best wishes from Jouarre’s mayor, Fabien Vallee, after which he deflected much of the credit he had been given for his assistance in establishing the partnership between the two cities.
“People have referred to me as the ‘bridge’ between Jouarre and Norwood, but that’s not true,” Wright said. “The bridge is First Lt. James P. Lowder.”
Wright added that the mission to link the two towns became more to him than just an interest.
“I was asked to help, and I thought, if I don’t help, who will? Then, as time went on, making the connection happen between these two towns became personal to me.”
Steve Culp of the Norwood VFW Post recognized State VFW Cmdr. Annie Cummings, along with five state-level VFW representatives who were in attendance.
Frank Lee, a cousin of James P. Lowder, then gave remembrances on behalf of the family.
“It’s important that we continue to do things like this (service) today, to educate people about the sacrifices that have been made,” said Lee, “and I want to take this opportunity to thank the VFW members and all those who served in the military.”
Crissman delivered a scripture reading and reflections from Micah 6, verses 1-8, after which the names of the 32 fallen Norwood soldiers were read while the church bell tolled.
Musicians Becky Wall, LouAnn Devers, Kim Thompson and John Thompson performed vocal selections, and Bob Miller read the poem, “By a Monument of Marble” by Marjorie Dobson.
A reception was held at the Norwood Museum following the service where visitors were able to view displays honoring Norwood’s armed services veterans.

Toby Thorpe is a freelance writer for The Stanly News & Press.