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 The morning began with welcoming comments by veteran C. Wayne
Schrader and opening prayer by Pastor Gerald Carter.
The guest speaker for the day was veteran Bob Sullivan. Sullivan
began by speaking about the history of Memorial Day. Memorial Day
began as Decoration Day soon after the end of the Civil War. John
Logan’s wife had traveled into the former Confederate region and
witnessed women laying flowers and other decorations on the graves
of their civil war dead.
She told her husband about what she had witnessed and urged him that
this should be an observance for all Civil War dead. Logan agreed
and pushed for a bill to be passed to declare a federal observance
of Decoration Day.
Several years and a few wars later, the observance was changed after
World War II to become a day of honor and remembrance for all fallen
soldiers of all wars.
 Sullivan continued talking to the veterans in the room and to those
who were not veterans. He noted that it was most proper for everyone
to be in the room, commemorating the soldiers who gave all. He
quoted from the Bible saying “No greater love hath a man than he lay
down his life for a friend.” He noted that in this country, every
person has been shown that love by soldiers who died for the freedom
we all now enjoy.
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Sullivan also took a moment to recognize the leaders of other
military organizations in the room, such as veteran James Harnacke,
who was representing the Marine Corp; veteran Michelle Ramlow
representing the Veterans of Foreign War; President of VFW, Lois
Allen; Commander of American Legion Post 263, Roger Bay; President
of the Post 263 Auxiliary, Tish Hennessey; Commander of the American
Legion Sons of American Legion, Bob Hedrick; and Mitch Logan, past
state commander of the VFW.
The laying of the wreath ceremony was done by Ann Miller of the American Legion
Auxiliary and Lois Allen of the VFW. Randy Schrader performed taps and the Color
Guard saluted the fallen with a three-shot volley.
At the end of the ceremony, Pastor Carter returned to the podium for the
benediction, and all guests were encouraged to stay for the free ham and bean
lunch offered by the American Legion.
The period after the ceremony was a great time of folks visiting and soldiers
remembering their younger days as they served their country.
[Nila Smith]
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