 (See Sgt. Ballard's
speech and biographical
information below.)There was the annual presentation of
flowers by the children and floral wreaths by 10 civic
organizations, including Mount Pulaski American Legion Post 447,
Mount Pulaski VFW Post 777, Sons of American Legion Squadron 447,
Mount Pulaski Volunteer Phoenix Fire Department, Mount Pulaski Boy
Scout Troop 122, and ladies auxiliaries of Post 447 and Post 777.
Former American Legion Post 447 Commander Bob McCue barked orders
to the honor guard and firing squad; former American Legion Post 447
Commander Allen Roos was the bugler; David Helm directed the Mount
Pulaski High School and Junior High Band; John Buckles played the
organ and sang several songs; minister Casey McCormick gave the
benedictions and the invocations; Mount Pulaski Mayor Bill Glaze was
a speaker; and American Legion Post 447 Chaplain Joe Lucas, a
retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, and American Legion Post
447 Commander Phil Bertoni were the masters of ceremonies.
Two students, Madeline Thornton and Lindsey Davis, read their
award-winning patriotic essays and were presented with savings
bonds.
Boy Scout Troop 122 decorated approximately 300 veterans '
graves in Mount Pulaski Cemetery with 24-inch American flags by.
Former American Legion Post 447 Commander Ralph Beccue and VFW Post
777 Commander Roger Bates tended the flag poles and got a bit wet
doing so.
___
Speech by Sgt. Mark
Ballard
We are gathered
today to pay tribute and to remember those who have sacrificed for
our country. Today, I wish to share a little about the history of
Memorial Day, why it is a time to honor and remember our service
members who have given their lives for our country and how you can
honor our local service members for their sacrifices.
The history and
tradition of Memorial Day started more than 100 years ago. Memorial
Day, originally called Decorations Day, was officially proclaimed on
May 5, 1868, by Gen. John Logan, national commander of the Grand
Army of the Republic, a veterans organization, and was first
observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of
soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.
By the end of the
19th century, Memorial Day ceremonies were being held on May 30
throughout the nation. State legislatures passed proclamations
designating May 30 as Memorial Day, and soon the Army and Navy
adopted regulations for proper observance at their facilities.
It was not until
after World War I that the day was expanded to honor those who have
died in all American wars. It was not until 1971 when
Congress passed the National Holiday Act that designated the last
Monday in May as Memorial Day.
Since then, this
day has been recognized to honor those who have fallen in service to
their country and to decorate their graves with flags of this great
nation.
Our men and women
in uniform are our most powerful line of defense in the current
conflict against terrorists and extremists. They come from all parts
of America and have answered the call to duty.
Since the current
conflicts of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom,
the Illinois National Guard has had 27 casualties: five female and
22 males, ranks ranging from SPC to 1LT. The Illinois National Guard
has had 15 casualties from Iraq and 12 from Afghanistan -- ages
ranging from 19-59. Of those 27 casualties, 11 have been from the
33rd IBCT, who is currently deployed to Afghanistan in support of
Operation Enduring Freedom.
I know in many
local cemeteries lie veterans who have served our country with
pride, in times of conflict and in times of peace. Let us pay
tribute today to the dead, but also to our current veterans.
On this Memorial
Day, let us recognize the tradition of paying tribute to all who
have served and sacrificed. Too often Memorial Day is thought of as
the start of summer.
To some it is a day
for cookouts, ballgames and getting together over a long weekend,
with the true tradition and meaning of Memorial Day being lost.
[to top of second column]
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I strongly encourage Americans to spend time on Memorial Day
commemorating the day as it was intended. Let us make a personal
commitment to do two things in the coming weeks to honor those
service members from our community.
Number one. Visit
the gravesites of fallen service members to silently thank them for
their service. Taking a brief moment to visit a cemetery, to place a
flag on the grave of a military member who proudly served our
country, or to just remember and silently thank them, will keep the
tradition and the meaning of Memorial Day what it was meant to be.
Number two. The
next time you see a service member, or a veteran, shake their hand.
Whether it is a service member pumping gas at a local station or a
veteran standing along a parade route saluting Ol' Glory, let them
know you appreciate their bravery and thank them for what they stand
for.
Memorial Day is a
time to honor and remember the brave men and women who have given
their lives for our country.
By understanding
some of the history and tradition behind Memorial Day, I hope you
will have a greater appreciation for the sacrifices made by our men
and women in uniform.
Thank you for
taking a moment with me today.
___
Sgt. 1st Class Mark Ballard has just recently
celebrated 18 years of military service to his county, of which the
last six years have been on active duty with Illinois Army National
Guard. During the past six years, Ballard has worked with members of
the Illinois National Guard and Army Reserve to train solders in
their military-specific skills, leadership and preparation for
deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Ballard lives in Athens with his wife, Jina, and two children,
Cora and Charles.
| Tribute to the Vonderlieth
veterans Today, we give thanks to our veterans who
no longer can muster out on the fields or in our
cemeteries. We do remember your devotion to our country
and we will always -- always -- be grateful for your
service and lifelong devotion to our flag.
The following is the wartime prayer of Mrs. Eleanor
Roosevelt, wife of the 32nd president of the United
States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt:
Dear
Lord,
Lest
I continue
My
complacent way,
Help
me to remember that somewhere,
Somehow out there
A man
or woman died for me today.
As
long as there be war,
I
then must answer
Am I worth fighting for? |
| At Mount Pulaski Cemetery
Good morning and welcome to our annual Mount Pulaski
Memorial Day service. Today is a day of remembrance for
those who have died in our nation's military service.
But, while we do honor all servicemen and servicewomen
who have given up their lives for our country, it is
fitting that we keep in mind the message that is written
on the Veterans Memorial in our Mount Pulaski Cemetery:
"Gratefully dedicated to ALL men and women who have
honorably served in the Armed Forces
of the United States of America."
Dedicated: May 28, 1990 |
[Text and pictures provided by Phil Bertoni]
|
