Special to The Record
Though the rain chose to pour down on Memorial Day, it didn’t stop the determination of many Craig County citizens who stepped onto the courthouse lawn. Most knew that the VFW and DAR would faithfully be there to show their respects to the men and women of Craig County and of the USA who have given their lives for the freedom of all who enjoy freedom in this nation.
However, with only 15 minutes before the service was to begin, the sun broke up the clouded sky and the rain stopped. “Prayer worked!” some shared with a grateful smile.
The DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) handed out flags and a schedule to all who attended.
To begin the service, Post 4491 VFW Chaplain Ken Looney rang the courthouse bell which immediately created a solemn sense of honor throughout the lawn.
Standing at attention, the VFW Post 4491 presented the flag with salutes.
Chaplain Ken Looney gave prayer, honoring the past men and women of the military, sharing that they are his first focus of the prayer, striving to bring praise and honor to all veterans, both past and present, as well as to those who are serving today in the defending of our grateful nation, including all future members of the military of the USA.
He shared in thanking God, “We acknowledge the debt we owe to the men and women of the United States military, who have guarded this country with their lives. We especially honor those who lost their lives while defending this nation. They fought on land, at sea and in the air, always understanding that they may not come back from the mission and accepting that as part of the job. They were willing to risk death to protect this land we hold so dear, and the American people along with it. We thank them for their sacrifice and promise we’ll carry on their legacy to ensure they did not die in vain.”
“Father, we pray that You strengthen and protect all of our military personnel who are serving presently and those yet to serve in the future. Give them the courage to face whatever may come, and protect them in battle, and help them to prosper in times of peace,” Looney continued with a broken voice. “Watch over their families Lord, as You watch over us, and meet their every need. We put our trust and faith in You, even if we don’t understand Your ways, we still accept the fact that You have a plan for each of us. Please help us fulfill our personal missions, whenever and wherever You may lead, and guide us and protect us as we strive to follow You in doing that things You have called us to do, in Your Holy name we pray.”
“Heavenly Father, we thank You again Lord, for having brought us together to pay tribute to those who lost their lives defending our nation,” shared Looney. “May their souls live on in Your gracious presence, and may they experience the full measure of Your love and mercy. We also ask that You guide us and make us worthy of the sacrifices from which we have benefited. We pray we never forget how blessed we truly are as a nation, as a people and as Your children. Let us remain in Your care and go in peace. To God be the Glory! Aman.”
Mayor Lenny MacDonald introduced the DAR who led the Pledge of Allegiance and continued with the presentation of “The Missing Man Table.”
Each item was described by Margaret Hines while Dianne Brown, Tina Crawford, Jackie Taylor, Peggy Huffman and Diane Givens stood by the table. It was ended by Hines talking of the empty chair representing the men and women who did not get the privilege of coming home from war. “Their chair is forever empty,” she said.
The National Anthem and an additional patriotic song was beautifully sung by Craig County Public Schools music teacher Alyssa Schulke.
Mayor MacDonald introduced the speaker, Commander Billy Lee, of local Craig Valley VFW Post 4491.
He added that Lee will be stepping down as commander in June and David Caldwell will take the position.
Lee gave a heartfelt and informational message as he began, “Memorial Day as we know it today, was born as Decoration Day in Waterloo, New York, back in 1866 when Henry Wells a local drugstore owner suggested that all businesses close for one day to honor, in solemn and patriotic manner, the fallen soldiers who lost their lives during the Civil War. A group of confederate widows decorated fresh graves with wildflowers. The townspeople made wreaths and crosses to place upon the headstones fallen, but it is our responsibility to teach our youth that nothing comes without cost, and that sacrifices are meaningless without remembrance.
I ask that on this somber occasion, you do not accept feelings of grief or affliction without an encompassing feeling of honor, patriotism, and pride. It is said that 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 not 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 that they have grown accustomed to and thrust themselves into unfamiliar and dangerous territories, eager to succeed in their endeavors.
From Maine’s rocky Atlantic Coast to the Golden State’s sandy beaches, this IS the land of the free, ensured by the generations who believed American is worth fighting for, worth dying for.
Today, perhaps more so than any other day throughout the year, we set aside our personal beliefs regarding politics and war and unite in respect to all those who afforded us the very opportunity to gather freely today. And I would be remiss not to mention the families left behind, their sacrifice is also felt, and they too, have earned our gratitude and appreciation.
So, as we leave here today, let us recommit ourselves to keeping the memory of our fallen alie, let us ensure our youth understand at an early age that their freedom was paid forward at great expense, let us work to educate others on the true meaning of Memorial Day, and let us vow to stand up for those who are unable to stand up for themselves.
On this sacred day, as we stand united as a nation under old glory, the silent sentinel of freedom, we see that faces of our fallen embedded in our symbol of red, white, and blue. And we thank then, and them alone for our nation’s past and for the hope and memories that continue to propel us into the future.
God bless all of our departed heroes, their families and God Bless America.
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 eternity.
The lives of our fallen soldiers, our fathers, our mothers, our brothers, our sisters, our comrade, were lives not lost in vain or anguish, for each life lost has contributed to the evolution of America as wel 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, and 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 also must not only remember the flags waved proudly at half-staff, and an American tradition was born.
Now, nearly 160 years later, I stand before you on this proud day of remembrance and ask that you join me in not only remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the good of this great nation, but in truly reflecting on their legacy. There has 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.
Sacred and hallowed ground at the Arlington, and places like Ardennes, Normandy, Pearl Harbor and Manila are testament to the high cost of achieving and maintaining freedom around the globe.”
Commander Lee proceeded to list the number of lives lost in all of the wars.
Lee continued, the American Revolutionary – 25,000, Quasi – 514, 1st Seminole – 36, 2nd Seminole – 1535, 3rd Seminole – 26, Indian – 919, Spanish-American – 2446, Boxer Rebellion – 131, Haiti Occupation – 148, North Russia Campaign – 424, Nicaragua Occupation – 48, Korean – 36,516, El Salvador Civil – 37, Northwest Indian – 1056, War of 1812 – 20,000, Black Hawk – 305, Mexican-American – 13,283, American Civil – 625,000, Great Sioux – 314, Philippine-American 4196, Mexican Revolution – 35, World War I – 116,516, AEF Siberia – 328, World War II – 405,399, Vietnam – 58,209, Beirut – 266, Grenada – 19, Persian Gulf – 258, Somalia Intervention – 43, NATO Yugoslavia – 20. Panama – 40, Provide Comfort – 19, Bosnia – 12, Enduring Freedom – 2356 and Iraqi Freedom – 4489.
Lee also chose to share the names of the mens lives who died while he served in the Vietnam War. They were all killed in action and all PFC’s.
- In 1968, James D Armstead Jr – age 21 and Harry G Pannell – 19 both died on Nov. 20.
- In 1969, 2nd Lieutenant Wilton S Pyle – age 23 – May 27, Dale E Greenwood – 20 – March 7, Raymond J Arroyo -19 – March 7, Lewis L McDonald – 20 March 7, James M King – 19 – March 26, James R Reynolds – 19- March 21, Philip B. Thompson – 20 – March 21, Clifford L Swisher – 20 – March 22, Carl Deyneka – 19 – May 24, James B Williams Jr – 19 – May 29, Clayton D Jenkins – 21 – June 3, James A Smith – 20 – May 29, William P Benn – 22 – June 6, Felton R Fussell – 18 – June 6, Teddy M Hodges – 24 – June 6, Ronald L Storbo – 18 June 6 and Daniel A Gatto – 18 – June 6.
