American Legion Post 263 Memorial Day Service respectful of past military and our current situation

 

[May 26, 2020] 

This year the act of observing Memorial Day took on a different meaning as many ventured out to gather for a special outdoor observance at the American Legion Post 263 in Lincoln.

The event often held outside, was held in a slightly different location, on the east side of the Legion building in the parking lot.

Chairs were spaced six feet apart. Cars parked behind the designated seating area, and several folks chose to observe the program from the air conditioned comfort of their vehicles.

Those who came to the gathering together, husbands and wives, and those couples arriving with their children, drew their seats closer together to sit side by side. Others remained spaced out, respecting the social guidelines that have been set forth by government leaders.

The day began with American Legion Post Commander Bob Sullivan offering a quick hello, then turning the podium over the Post Chaplain C. Wayne Schrader for the opening prayer. Prayer was followed by the singing of the Star Spangled Banner by local vocal artist Lesleigh Bennett.

Sullivan returned to the podium and introduced himself to the audience, and then recognized other local veteran group leaders within the crowd.

Those recognized included Cronin Brothers VFW Post Commander Michelle Ramlow; Marine Corps League Commandant Jim Harnacke, VFW Past State Commander Vince Long, VFW Auxiliary Past State President Janet Long, President of the Cronin Brothers VFW Auxiliary Lois Allen, and local Sons of the American Legion Commander John Cook.

Sullivan then introduced Col. James P. Allen, who carries a long list of titles behind his name including his military position at the United States Army Research and Development Center in Champaign.

Col. Allen delivered a brief but impactful speech, addressing courage, valor, selfless sacrifice, and resilience of our past military deceased and tying his words back to the challenges that are before the American people today in the midst of a pandemic.

Allen began saying, “We are here today on this Memorial Day to celebrate and remember. All across this country and all around the world we gather for one purpose, to remember our fallen brothers and sisters. I dedicate these words to them and to their families, who are both filled with grief for the loss of the loved one but also filled with great pride that their loved one died in selflessness and lived a life of sacrifice for an honorable cause. In so doing they brought honor to themselves, their families, military units, and indeed our nation.

Col. Allen noted that our government was founded on the principals of equality for all and representation in government for the people and by the people as prescribed in our constitution.

He said that from the first time to the last, our soldiers took on the battles before them with mission of righting the wrongs of injustice.

He said that our country has seen almost 244 years of such battles for right and he walked through a description of the lives lost in the battles fought.

He began with those who starved and froze to death at Valley Forge during the American Revolution. He moved on to those Quarter Masters who drowned in the swamps of Louisiana in the Battle of New Orleans in the war of 1812.

Col. Allen remembered the engineers who fought and died at the Battle of Little Round Top, Gettysburg during the Civil War and those Cavalrymen who charged San Juan Hill in 1898.

Moving on he remembered those who were killed by poisonous gas in World War One and the sailors who burned in the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Col. Allen continued on speaking of the aviators shot down over Korea in the 50s and Viet Nam in the 60s, tankers who died in Kuwait in 1991, marines who lost their lives in Iraq.

He spoke of the Special Forces who died in Afghanistan and other undisclosed locations around the world.

His final acknowledgement came to the “Unknown soldiers whose courage, valor and sacrifice is known but to God.”

Col. Allen said, “These are the lives that have been laid on the altar of freedom that we honor here today.”

Moving on Col. Allen said, “To read the headlines each day on the topic of coronavirus makes it seem like perseverance and endurance is something new for this nation. That would be false. We are a resilient people with a great tradition, a heritage, to uphold. In recounting this nearly two and a half centuries of our history, we see that it is now our responsibility to honor our predecessor’s sacrifices by upholding the same values of God and country; principals of duty, honor, loyalty, courage and selfless sacrifice.

“In the farming and agricultural community here in Logan County, we must cultivate not just crops for physical nourishment but we must cultivate much more in our daily lives. (We must) cultivate faith in our creator God who made each of us in his own image. And which is the principal that underlines our democratic representation that all men and women are created equal, and thus have natural rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

“We must cultivate knowledge, knowledge of our history and appreciation of those who have gone before us and the challenges of their time that they faced, persevered and endured that we might benefit.

“We must cultivate compassion for one another, building upon the collective statement of ‘we the people.’ This nation was not formed nor will it be maintained by the act of a single individual, but by communities made up of individuals who are taught to love one another; taught that self-sacrifice is a much higher ideal than self-indulgence; taught with inspiring actions that seek the common good; the very actions of sacrifice we are gathered here to honor today.

Drawing close to his finish, Allen read aloud the poem “In Flanders Fields.”

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Allen concluded with, “My hope and my prayer that this generation and future generations will faithfully carry that torch ahead for another 100 years, another millennium.”

When his speech was finished, Allen stepped aside and Commander Sullivan returned to the podium.

The ritual laying of the wreath was performed by Janet Long and Ann Miller representing the VFW and Legion Auxiliaries, respectively.

Taps was played and the three shot volley was administered by the American Legion Color Guard.

Afterward Sullivan acknowledged the color guard for all their help in getting chairs set up for the day as well as those who helped with the flags that were on display. He explained that sadly there would be no ham and bean lunch this year due to the distancing and gathering rules attached to coronavirus.

He thanked all those who had come out for the assembly saying that he hadn’t known for sure what to expect in these unusual times, but was grateful for those who had come to honor and remember the fallen soldiers of our country.

Chaplain Schrader returned to the podium to deliver the end of the day invocation, the Bennett led the gathering in the singing of God Bless America, and with that the day’s activities drew to an end.

In the end, while the seating may have been a bit different, the reverence and respect for our fallen soldiers that is seen each year at this ceremony was intact. Perhaps a testament in itself of the resilience and selflessness of our people, who recognize that remembering is important not only to the families of those who have lost loved ones. And also serves as an inspiration and act of gratitude to those who serve today, and do continue to carry that heavy burden of protecting the freedoms of this nation.

God Bless to all.

[Nila Smith]