Salutations Mayor, Colonel Lucas, Captain Manes, fellow
veterans and Hilltoppers, family, and friends – thank you.
I am deeply humbled and honored to return to my hometown and
provide a few words on one of Honoring
Memorial Day is the time Americans honor those veterans who have given their lives fighting for our country. On this sacred day, we stop and remember the enormous sacrifices our men and women in uniform have made, and are still making, to preserve our liberty, and also of the responsibility we bear to transmit liberty to future generations. More than 48 million men and women have fought to
preserve Our fallen heroes from World War I – Herbert Ryman and Zachary Taylor Fuiten; from World War II – Roscoe Allen, Louis “Cotton” Bender, Lewis Dean Berry, Tommy Deibert, Frederick Durcholz, Chester Goodman, Wilbur Mann, Orville Munyon, Donald Landis, Joe Houchin, and Marvin McVicker; from the Korean War – Williard “Spud” Payne; and from the Vietnam War – Michael Scroggin and Raymond Gee, Jr. Let us also remember the more than 140,000 who were taken prisoner-of-war and the many others who were never accounted for. Some of the prisoners-of-war from our community are Harold “Butch” Haynes, Mike Koehler, Robert Horn, Stu Milligan, Robert Schahl. The fallen are in our midst today, to remind us that the cost of war and the price of peace are great. The
“Memorial” in Memorial Day For decades, stores closed and communities gathered on Memorial Day for a day of parades and other celebrations with a patriotic theme. Memorial Day meant ceremonies at cemeteries around the country, speeches honoring those who gave their lives, the laying of wreaths and flowers, and the playing of Taps. In some places, these ceremonies continue, as we see here today in Mt. Pulaski. Those of you present at this ceremony remember the true meaning of Memorial Day. However, too many Americans, who are the beneficiaries of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice, pay little or no attention to the “Memorial” in Memorial Day. For a growing percentage of Americans, Memorial Day has come to mean a three-day weekend, the opening weekend of summer, barbecues, picnics, and Memorial Day sales. A Call to Action What can we, as individuals do, and what can this community do to keep the meaning of “Memorial” in Memorial Day? First, by being here today, you are doing something important. You are not forgetting the sacrifices of our fallen veterans. What else can you do? You can –
So, as I close with a poem on this sacred day remember the names, lives and sacrifices of these 16 heroes from Mt. Pulaski. Memorial Day
Poem (written by Michelle
Keim) As we stand here looking At the flags upon these graves Know these flags represent A few of the true American brave They fought for their Country As man has through all of time Except that these veterans lying here Fought for your country and mine As we all are gathered here To pay them our respect Let’s pass this word to others It’s what they would expect I’m sure that they would do it If it were me or you To show we did not die in vane But for the red, white and blue. Let’s pass on to our children And to those who never knew What these veterans died for It’s the least we can do Let’s not forget their families Great pain they had to bear Losing a son, father or husband They need to know we still care No matter which war was fought On the day that they died I stand here looking at these flags Filled with American pride. So as the bugler plays out Taps With its sweet and eerie sound Pray for these veterans lying here In this sacred, hallowed ground. Take home with you a sense of pride You were here Memorial Day Celebrating the way Americans should On this solemnest of days.[1]
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