Veterans and community observe Memorial Day
HONORING SACRIFICE
Veterans and the community commemorated Memorial Day through various activities over the three-day weekend.
Memorial Day, also known as Decoration Day, commemorates the service of men and women who died while in service to their country. The day is usually marked by remembrance ceremonies and the decoration of veterans’ graves.
On Saturday March 26, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), American Legion, and community volunteers placed American Flags on the graves of veterans at Phillips Cemetery. Prior to the placement of the flags, U.S. Army Colonel (retired) Gary Hale, conducted a short remembrance ceremony which included a prayer and the playing of taps by trumpet players Darrell Anglin and Bill Cox. “Memorial Day is not a day to celebrate. It’s not that type of holiday,” Hale said. “This is a day to remember those that gave their lives.” Hale also mentioned that Phillips Cemetery contained the graves of veterans going “all the way back to the American-Spanish War.”
Memorial Day itself was observed by a breakfast and midday remembrance ceremony at the Triangle.
The Knights of Columbus breakfast for veterans and first responders on Memorial Day has now become an established yearly tradition. This year’s breakfast guest speaker was U.S. Army Major General (retired) Anthony Cucolo. “For veterans, every day is Memorial Day. Not in a downcast way, but in honored memory of uncommon valor found in common men. Men that we knew and served with,” Cucolo said. “When we run into fellow veterans in our travels, we find we run into family through that common bond.” Cucolo spoke of the grief he personally experienced as he lost men under his command in the Middle-East, and how he recommitted himself to being worthy of that sacrifice on a daily basis.
The mid-day ceremony commemorating the day was held at the Triangle by the VFW and American Legion. The ceremony included taps, short speeches by American Legion Commander Roger Keats and VFW Commander Robert Garland, a ceremonial laying of a wreath, and flag raising. This year’s ceremony also included a bell ceremony. A ceremonial bell was struck as the names of local departed area veterans were read. The bell was wrung for P.A. Lindsey (U.S.M.C., Vietnam), Tom Armstrong (U.S. Army, Vietnam), Floyd Self (U.S. Army, Bosnia), Richard Painter (U.S. Navy), Harold Lloyd Barton (U.S. Army, World War 2), William Harrison Pope (U.S.A.F., Vietnam), David Ochs (U.S.A.F), and Jerry Ochs (U.S.A.F.).
The ceremony was heavily attended by area first responders, including members of the North Hays Fire/Rescue Department, and Precinct 4 Constables, including Constable Ron Hood.