Memorial Day

Lincoln Memorial Day Service, a show of gratitude and respect for those who gave all

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[June 01, 2021]   On Monday, Memorial Day was observed at the Lincoln American Legion Post 263 with a large crowd gathering in the parking lot to acknowledge and remember the lives that have been lost in the continuing efforts to assure the freedoms all Americans enjoy.

Memorial Day, for the veterans and members of the American Legion, is not about them. It is not about the veterans who stood at the singing of the National Anthem, nor the ones who bore flags and rifles in a salute at the end of the day. It is about those who are missing from the crowd, the ones who gave the most valuable gift of all for their country, their very lives.

The sentiment of that selfless sacrifice was the theme of the day and reflected in the words spoken at the podium.








The day began at 10:30 a.m. with Bob Sullivan welcoming guests. C. Wayne Schrader was called to the podium to offer the opening prayers, then local vocalist Lesleigh Bennet sang the National Anthem.



Sullivan then offered introductions of those present who are leaders of local veterans groups and organizations. The podium was then turned over to the guest speaker of the day, Pastor Ron Otto from the Lincoln Christian Church.




Otto opened by reminding his audience that he was not a veteran. He explained that his family upbringing in the Mennonite faith meant that he was dissuaded from becoming a member of the military forces. He added that in his life, he does not have a large number of regrets, but one regret he does have is that he cannot claim himself to have been one who defended our country. However, he proudly shared that his son Matthew is in the Air Force and recently made Master Sergeant.

Otto continued saying war is inevitable and that soldiers went out and gave their lives for our freedom. He said that he and his wife were the lucky ones as their son had served and come home safe and healthy.

He said that all he could do was say thank you to those who had died and to the families they left behind.

Otto shared that he had a keen interest in the events of Pearl Harbor and he had seen a documentary about that attack and had marveled at just how many ships were destroyed and damaged. He spoke about the ships that were reclaimed and the continued service of those ships had been useful in defending our country.

Otto shared a story that he said might not be politically correct, but it always drew a chuckle from him. He said that at the end of World War II, the Japanese were to officially surrender on American soil. The U.S.S. Missouri was taken to Tokyo Bay for the event. The ship docked and pointed all of its guns toward the mainland of Japan. Otto said that Douglas MacArthur had ordered that at the end of the gang plank leading from ship to shore there was two rows of marines. MacArthur made certain that each of those marines stood at least six-feet two-inches or taller so that all the smaller statured Japanese officials had to walk through that double row of much taller men to board the ship and officially surrender.

Otto noted that even today, some of those in the audience might feel like they have come to the end of the usefulness, perhaps feeling they too have been torpedoed. He said, “You’re wondering if you can be restored and put back into service? Is there any life left in these old bones? The answer is yes.”

He turned to the Bible to speak to the group about a brave leader who had won battles for God, Joshua. He said that Joshua was late in his life when he saw that his countrymen were turning away from the one true God and were beginning to worship other gods. Otto said Joshua did two things in his old age. He first stood before his countrymen and spoke out. Joshua stood in testimony saying, “You can turn back to these other gods, but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.”

Otto said the second thing Joshua did well was that he “kept his moral compass headed north.”



Otto continued, “To all those who have served, sometimes I know you come back to our country and feel like you are taking a hit from us. That doesn’t represent all of us, it doesn’t represent the bulk of us. Most of us respect you greatly. Most of us appreciate you deeply. We admire you. As someone who did not get a chance to serve, I wish I was one of you.”

He went on to say he was born and raised in a time when it was not offensive to recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag at the beginning of the school day. “I was brought up in a time when singing God Bless America or America the beautiful was not considered rude. I was in a time when the American flag didn’t cause other Americans to be insulted.”

In closing Otto noted, “There are people in our world who have never known one day of freedom, but because of the American military, I have never known one day without it.”

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Following Otto, Ann Miller and Michelle Ramlow representing the American Legion and VFW performed the customary wreath ceremony, the American Legion Color Guard delivered the 21-gun salute and taps was played.

Sullivan told the audience that this week the Marine Corps League, VFW and Legion put out 1,700 flags on graves and he knew there were other organizations that had done the same. He commented of the American Legion Honor Guard had done so much in our community from attending funeral services to putting out flags to helping with the ham and bean dinner that would be served at noon. He said he wanted to acknowledge and thank those in the color guard for their service.

American Legion Post 263 Commander Ken Werth then came to the podium to offer some recognition certificates to various members of the Legion.



Werth began saying that he wanted to acknowledge those who have supported the American Legion always, but especially in the past year. He noted that it had been a very difficult year for the Legion but that they had made it through.” He said, “We’re “holding our own, and it’s because of the support of you people.”

Werth then listed long standing members who were to receive certificates this year.

Raymond Cotton, 25 years of membership.



Brad Cook, 50 years





William Menzel, 50 years.
David Morrow, 50 years.



Bob Sullivan, 50 years.

With certificates completed C. Wayne Schrader returned to the podium for the closing prayer and Bennett invited the audience to join her in singing God Bless America.

With the ceremony completed, all guests were invited inside the Legion Hall for the traditional ham and bean lunch that due to the pandemic had been denied everyone in 2020.

As guests assembled inside, the last act of the day was a group photo of all the veterans present at the Lincoln ceremony.



More than 40 soldiers from various military units and with varying ranks gathered together as one for the photo before heading inside to enjoy their lunch.

[Nila Smith]

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