Community Remembers, Honors Fallen Military

There’s been no other nation on earth whose sacrifice has been greater than ours. Nowhere in the pages of history has there been a country, before ours, that has paid a higher price for the freedom of others.”

Scott Taylor, Commander VFW Post 1075

HARRISON – The May 29 Memorial Day Ceremony at Veterans Freedom Park began with a welcome from Karl Hauser, director of Clare County Veterans Services, followed by the Honor Guard Posting of the Colors and the national anthem. Hauser then reminded attendees that while the long holiday weekend “tends to get overshadowed sometimes by mattress sales and barbecues,” that everyone was there Monday for the specific reason it exists.

The program continued with remarks from Allisha Gary, Clare County Veterans Services Officer, who spoke of the weekend as marking the beginning of summer and family gathering events. She noted that for those with military service, it holds a much greater significance, as it commemorates the brave men and women who lost their lives defending this nation. Gary described the beginning of Memorial Day 155 years ago, then known as Decoration Day as it was intended to beautify the graves in memory of those who fought and died to preserve the nation during the Civil War. It was explained that while “Over time the name of the day has changed, the intention has not, and is a day when all Americans should take a moment to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country and recounting the courageousness of their service.”

Gary shared a quote from President Harry Truman, when he spoke to the Armed Forces after the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt: “Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country cannot be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices. Because of these sacrifices, the dawn of justice and freedom throughout the world slowly casts its gleam across the horizon. The respect and admiration we give our fallen pay tribute to their memory and the lives they lived.’

“We do so by visiting their gravesites, replacing flags, wreaths or other mementos at memorials in our communities,” she said. “But their final resting place should not be the only space we gather, share memories or sit in quiet contemplation. To truly honor their lives, we must share their stories with others and ensure their memories live on, even though they are gone.”

Gary went on to cite the specific story of Lori Piestewa whose group, including her best friend Jessica Lynch, deployed to Iraq in March 2003. “Their group was ambushed enroute to Syria and the two were taken prisoner. Piestewa did not survive, making her the first woman service member to die in Iraq, as well as the first Native American woman killed while fighting for the U.S. military.”

She related how Piestewa’s father, himself a Vietnam War veteran, had spoken of how memorials to his daughter had helped him and his family heal and celebrate her life.

“The stories of the fallen matter and need to be told,” Gary said. “By sharing stories, we keep memories alive and give others a glimpse of military service that aims to inspire them to create a better world, a stronger nation and kinder community. It is up to use to use these gifts secured by those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, to do as much good as possible and honor a debt that can never be repaid.”

The speakers on the day had far more wise and insightful words to share than can be fully related here. What follows are but portions of their well-presented comments.

Joe Prato, Commander American Legion Post 404 in Harrison and VVA Chapter 7: “We welcome you here today on this Memorial Day. Let us remember, protecting freedom comes with a cost, remember our troops and those we lost.  He then introduced portions of written quotes, the first was “A Call to Duty” by Kelly Roper: ‘A call of duty is sent out, a strong and brave reply. They do it for a love of country, no need to ask why…’

“How do you measure a soldier’s sacrifice? Is it by the number of family and friends left behind? Is it by a month or years he’s given in service? How do you measure a soldier’s courage? Is it by the number of objectives completed, or the number of bullets dodged from missions missed? How do you measure a soldier’s honor? Is it by duty he or she volunteers for, or is it the number of medals earned? The simple truth is these things are immeasurable as this country’s debt to all that served and paid the price for freedom in this land. In the memorial [“Memorial Day”] written by Civil War orator Robert Green [1833-1899] he eloquently captures the significance of Memorial Day for all generations who have fallen.”

‘… They died for liberty – they died for us/They sleep in the land that they made free/Under the flag they rendered stainless ... /Earth may run red with other wars – they are at peace/In the midst of the battles, in the roar of conflicts/They found the serenity of death.’

“So, on this Memorial Day remember, those that gave the ultimate sacrifice. And God bless our men and women serving now, and keep them safe. And remember – freedom is not free.”

Last to speak was Scott Taylor, Commander VFW Post 1075, who also recapped the origins of Memorial Day and its goal of “honoring in a solemn and patriotic manner the fallen soldiers who lost their lives during the Civil War.” He noted the wildflowers placed on graves, crosses on headstones, and flags waving at half staff. “And an American tradition was born.”

Taylor said that he now stood before the audience 156 years later asking they join him in the proud day of remembrance, not only in remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice, but in truly reflecting on their legacy.

“There’s been no other nation on earth whose sacrifice has been greater than ours,” Taylor said. “Nowhere in the pages of history has there been a country, before ours, that has paid a higher price for the freedom of others.”

Taylor said that sacred ground at “places like Arlington, Ardennes, Normandy, Pearl Harbor, Manilla are a testament to the high cost of achieving and maintaining freedom throughout the world.

“President John F. Kennedy once said: ‘As we express our gratitude we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.’ I ask that today you embrace those words in their entirety,” Taylor said. “The lives of our fallen soldiers – our fathers, our mothers, our brothers, our sisters, our comrades – were lives not lost in vain or anguish for each life has contributed to the evolution of America as we know it today. A free nation, a strong nation – a nation that stands the tallest when we stand together.

“So, as we stand together today, we are reminded of the true cost of freedom. While we, as a nation, mourn the lives lost, we celebrate the lives lived and are forever grateful. Above all, in an attempt to pay back our debt as American citizens, we must also not only remember the fallen, but it is our responsibility to teach our youth that nothing comes without a cost. Sacrifices are meaningless without remembrance. I ask on this somber occasion that you do not accept feelings of grief or affliction without encompassing the feelings of honor and patriotism and pride. It is said where one story ends, another begins: a statement that holds true for our fallen service members. Though their lives were cut short, their contributions live on. They have ensured that the Declaration of Independence holds true for everyone – some whose story is just beginning, some who otherwise may have been entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The courage possessed by the men and women we honor today is something that cannot be learned, it is something that is felt deep within.

“The willingness to die for our beliefs is truly what makes America the home of the brave. The relatively few patriots who wear the cloth of our country leave the life they’ve grown accustomed to and throw themselves into unfamiliar and dangerous territory, eager to succeed in their endeavors. From Maine’s rocky coast to the Golden State’s sandy beaches, this is the Land of the Free, ensured by the generations who believed it’s worth fighting for – and dying for.”

Taylor then described Memorial Day as one day more than others when fellow citizens set aside their beliefs on politics and war to attribute respect to all those who provided the opportunity to gather freely on that day. He also gave respect to those families left behind, their sacrifice, and their earned gratitude and appreciation.

“As we leave here today, let us recommit ourselves to keeping the memory of our fallen alive,” Taylor said. “And let us ensure our youth understand at an early age that freedom is paid forward at a great expense. Let us work together to educate others on the true meaning of Memorial Day, and let us vow to stand up for those who are unable to stand for themselves.”

The program then moved to ceremonial placing of wreaths by VFW Post 1075, VFW Post 1075 Auxiliary, American Legion Post 404, American Legion Post Vietnam Veterans of America, American Legion Post 404 Auxiliary and Harrison Post 404 Sons of the American Legion.

Retirement of the Colors was followed by a service at Maple Grove Cemetery where a wreath and flowers would be laid at the base of the military marker, along with a 21-gun salute and the playing of “Taps.” A luncheon was also provided at American Legion Post 404.