Denzil Bullock Road Is Dedicated To Pvt. Raymond Bullock In Ceremony

Magistrate Mark Woosley delivers remarks at the ceremony honoring Pvt. Raymond Bullock.

Event Stirs Emotion, Patriotism In Community

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
A fallen Edmonson County soldier was honored on Saturday in an emotional dedication event as Denzil Bullock Road in the Segal Community was officially dedicated to Private Raymond W. Bullock, who was killed during battle in WWII at age 19.

The ceremony was held at the home of Private Bullock's brother, Denzil Bullock, who is also a local baptist minister. Several family members were present along with dozens of other community members, local officials, and members of the local DAV and VFW chapters.

Siblings of Pvt. Bullock, L-R: Nelda Wheat, Bro. Denzil Bullock, Carolyn Sanders.

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Road sign at the north side of Denzil Bullock Road.

Private Bullock grew up on his family farm on the county road and joined the US Army in 1940 at the age of only 15. During his service, he earned more than 25 medals and ribbons, serving a total of 22 months overseas, while he was credited with 200 days of actual combat.

Magistrate Mark Woosley spoke to Bullock's military service and introduced Bro. Denzil Bullock.

"Having a 15-year old son myself, I can't imagine what it would be like as a parent to go through what the Bullocks did so many years ago," he said.

Bro. Bullock thanked all in attendance and spoke about the close relationship he had with his brother, as well as the closeness with the rest of his siblings.

"I was only 5 years old then," he said as his voice quivered, "but I still remember. My brother was 10-foot tall in my eyes."

The ceremony was presented by DAV Chapter 32 and VFW Post 6937. DAV Commander Jack Hasty gave opening remarks and VFW Chaplain Paul Vincent delivered a moving invocation.

DAV Auxiliary Commander Maurita Miller also spoke at the ceremony and DAV member Ronnie Stewart read a poem entitled, "The Final Inspection."

The ceremony ended with a very emotional gun salute and the playing of "Taps" by VFW member Morris Blanton. Blanton was also one of two buglers that played the solemn song at Private Bullock's funeral in 1948.

One of the newly installed signs was unveiled at the beginning of the road, off HWY 70 West. Earlier in the year, Edmonson County Fiscal Court passed an ordinance that would allow any county road to be be dedicated to a resident killed in action that lived on the road, at request of family. Each dedication is privately funded. 

Refreshments were served as attendees shared fellowship with one another at the conclusion of the program. Memorial bookmarks were handed out to those in attendance.

Denzil Bullock Road is the second county road to be memorialized in Edmonson County this year, following Noah Bledsoe Road in Chalybeate, dedicated to SP4 Elzie Sanders, Jr., who was killed during the Vietnam War.