CARNEGIE — This time, the military service the Dawsons gave their country wasn’t forgotten.
B. Louise (Boddie) Dawson, 99, of Independence Township was buried Wednesday at Chartiers Cemetery in Carnegie, with military honors provided by the Beaver County Special Unit.
“Representing the flag of our nation is a privilege of every able-bodied American. We will always honor and never forget those who have done so,” Carl Hughes, the unit’s commander, said during a short graveside service, where Dawson and her husband, Lt. Col. Emmett C. Dawson Jr., who died in 1995, were jointly honored.
Military honors weren’t provided at his funeral, and the Special Unit made up for it in a special way Wednesday, when they honored the couple for their military service. She was a nurse who attained the rank of second lieutenant in the Army during World War II. He was a career military man, serving in the Army from 1942 through 1971 and retiring as a lieutenant colonel.
One of their daughters, Felicia Dawson-Batcha of Houston, shared her parents’ story with The Times in a story that was published May 7, a week to the day before B. Louise Dawson died.
“Our deepest and sincere sympathy to the Dawson family, relatives and friends,” Hughes said. “On behalf of the United States government and the Beaver County Special Unit, it is a privilege to honor your veterans and our fellow comrades.”
The Dawsons and others like them “have paid the price of freedom by their military service,” Hughes said.
“As time moves on, all of us have a tendency to forget this sacrifice, especially those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our heritage of freedom,” he said.
The Dawsons should be thought of heroes for their service because of their willingness to put their lives on the line for God, flag and country, Hughes said.
“Friends, let us so live that when the keeper of eternal records calls our name for the last time, those we leave behind may say of us, as we now say of (Emmett and Louise), here lies a true-hearted comrade and a fearless defender of (their) country and flag," Hughes said.
The ceremony concluded with a gun salute and the playing of taps.
After the service, Felicia hugged each of the members of the special unit, crying tears of appreciation for the due honors they provided.