 The Memorial Day guest speaker was Col. Paul A. Fanning, who lives with his wife,
Lora, and their four children in nearby Chestnut. Fanning
currently serves as joint logistics officer on the joint operations
staff of the Illinois National Guard. His previous assignments
included deputy commander to Task Force White Eagle, a Polish
infantry brigade in Afghanistan; deputy chief of staff information
management; commander of the 634th Brigade Support Battalion; and
operation officer of the 66th Infantry Brigade. In addition to
Afghanistan and Poland, he has also served overseas in Honduras,
Italy, Iceland and Bulgaria.Fanning holds a master's degree in
strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College, which is located
at Carlisle Barracks in the Susquehanna Valley, Pa. Carlisle
Barracks is one of our nation's oldest military installations,
started in 1757, offering pioneering concepts in military training
and innovative education measures in preparation for a changing
world. Fanning informed us that Gen. George Washington was one of
the primary movers in establishing Carlisle Barracks.
Fanning has
been highly decorated, receiving many military awards and
decorations. Among these are the National Defense Service Medal,
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal,
NATO Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Meritorious Service Medal,
Bronze Star and a Polish Armed Forces Silver Medal. Many of these
awards have been multiple decorations.
Fanning spoke of the many sacrifices that men and women of our
nation's military forces -- and their families -- experience, which
unfortunately include the ultimate sacrifice. He made reference to a
soldier from Mattoon who recently paid this ultimate price for the
defense of our country.
Fanning urged all of us to continue to respect and support our
men and women in uniform. He was very impressed with the outpouring
of reverence for the deceased veterans who helped preserve our
nation's freedoms. The Memorial Day service at Mount Pulaski
Cemetery was attended by one of the largest crowds in recent memory.
The prayers of invocation and benediction were given by Father
Thomas Shaw. Following tradition, the Memorial Day minister comes
from one of the local churches on a rotational basis. For the past
eight years, Father Shaw has been the pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas
Catholic Church in Mount Pulaski and St. Patrick's Church in nearby
Elkhart. He has also served as chaplain to the Catholics and
others at the men's and women's state correctional facilities in
nearby Lincoln, which he visits on a weekly basis -- giving counsel
to them and saying Mass for them.
Shaw will be leaving on June 15. His next assignment will
be in Walnut, Ill., and he will also pastor the parish in nearby
Ohio, Ill. Mount Pulaskians wish him well in his next assignments.
One of the speakers was Jim Fuhrer, mayor of Mount Pulaski. Fuhrer
is a member of Mount Pulaski American Legion SAL Squadron 447. His
father, Paul Fuhrer, is a World War II veteran and former commander
of Ryman-Fuiten Post 447.
Every year, the presentation of flowers is conducted by all boys
and girls in attendance, who come forward to lay flowers at the base
of the Veterans Memorial. In addition, veterans conduct their
laying of the wreaths at the base of the memorial. The wreaths are
brought forward by members of the local American Legion Women's
Auxiliary Unit 447, VFW Women's
Auxiliary Unit 777, Legion Ryman-Fuiten Post 447, VFW Scroggin-Gee
Post 777, SAL Squadron 447, the city of Mount Pulaski, Boy Scout
Troop 122, Girl Scout Troop 1070 and Cub Scout Pack 122. Lastly, a
wreath is brought forward by the Volunteer Phoenix Fire Department,
which celebrated its 90th year in 2010.
Assisting with the presentation of flowers and the laying of the
wreaths were Ralph Beccue and Joe Lucas, both former commanders of
Legion Post 447. Lucas is a retired lieutenant colonel of the
Illinois National Guard and currently serves as the chaplain at all
of the cemetery and funeral home military rites for Mount
Pulaski.
The honor guard and firing squad commander is Bob McCue,
who is also a former commander of Post 447. Before him, Loren
Meister spent many years as commander of this honor guard and firing
squad. Meister was also a former commander of Post 447.
The honor guard and firing squad is made up of both military
veteran posts in Mount Pulaski -- Legion Post 447 and VFW Post 777
-- along with SAL Squadron 447. Phil Bertoni is commander of Legion
Post 447, Roger Bates is commander of VFW Post
777, and Michael Richner is commander of SAL Squadron 447.
The bugler
for many years has been and is today Alan Roos, a former Post 447
commander. Tom Romer has also served as bugler and is another former
Post 447 commander.
Post 447 military rites coordinator is Wally Kautz, who also serves as post adjutant. Gini Bertoni, a U.S. Navy
veteran, is the Post 447 finance officer.
Next, thoughtful reflection was given to our locally deceased
veterans -- those who lived in and around Mount Pulaski at some time
in their lives -- who have died since the 2010 Memorial Day service.
The honor guard and firing squad performed cemetery rites for many
of these men and women.
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Each year, SAL Squadron 447 conducts a student patriotic essay
contest. This contest is successful because of the encouragement and
support of the teachers. Two savings bonds, $100 for an
elementary student and $200 for a high school student, are awarded
by the squadron.
This year's elementary student winner is an eighth-grader
graduating from Mount Pulaski Grade School, Julia Beccue, who is the
daughter of Jeff and Jeannie Beccue of Mount Pulaski. The Mount
Pulaski High School winner is Alexandra Conley, daughter of John and
Lisa Conley of Mount Pulaski. Alexandra's patriotic essay was chosen
to be read on Memorial Day. Since she was away with her family at a
wedding, Kyle Pryzkopanski member of Boy Scout
Troop 122, volunteered to read her essay, doing his "good turn" for
her.
Following the salute to our fallen comrades by the honor guard
and firing squad, taps was played beautifully by Roos --
chilling many despite the 90-degree temperatures.
The honor guard then dismissed and re-formed at the local Vonderlieth
Living Center. There, they honored 17 veterans who no longer can
muster at their Memorial Day cemetery rites. Col. Fanning gave a
short talk and Father Shaw a short prayer of benediction. Then, in
single file,
the honor guard along with Fanning, Shaw and
Legion Commander Bertoni went to each veteran, shaking
their hand and thanking them for their service to our country.
The honor guard then re-formed at Steenbergen Cemetery, south of town,
for the second Memorial Day service. In the chapel there, over 150
were in audience. The Mount Pulaski school band played the national
anthem for the flag-raising, which was performed by VFW Post 777
Commander Bates. Joe Lucas, president of the Steenbergen Cemetery
Association, was master of ceremonies. In addition to the prayers by
Shaw and the talk by Fanning, patriotic music was played
on the organ by Laura Lee, accompanying singer Jennifer Wernsing. Bertoni read the list of local veterans who had died
since last Memorial Day. As each deceased veteran's name was read,
his or her branch of service was noted. Outside, the honor guard and
firing squad once again conducted the salute to fallen comrades,
followed by taps by Roos.
It was announced at the end of both cemetery services that, this
year, the town of Mount Pulaski is celebrating its 175th anniversary
(1836-2011). In celebration of the 175th, there was a free luncheon
at the Legion Post 447 Hall. This luncheon was co-sponsored by the
Mount Pulaski 175th Anniversary Committee, Legion Post 447, Women's
Auxiliary Unit 447 and SAL Squadron 447. Over 175 meals were served.
Greg Maus, leader of Boy Scout Troop 122, said grace
for the first sitting, and Father Shaw said grace for the second
sitting.
Following the luncheon, the Springfield
Vintage Brass Band
performed at the Mount Pulaski Courthouse bandstand. The band was
expertly led by Todd Cranson, a professor at the University of
Illinois Springfield, who explained each piece and its place in our
mid- to late 1800s American music repertoire, including several
Civil War-era pieces. Cranson made mention of Benjamin Henry
Grierson, who taught music and conducted a brass band in
Jacksonville before the Civil War. Cranson had his Vintage Brass
band play one of Grierson's brass band pieces.
Grierson's collection, some of which is housed in the Illinois
State Archives, is the earliest collection of brass band music in
the United States, circa 1840. The Grierson brass band performed in
Springfield during Abraham Lincoln's tenure in the capital city.
Interestingly, it was in Jacksonville that Grierson was
hand-picked by Gen. Ulysses S. Grant to lead an important military
mission, which would become known as Grierson's Raid. This mission encompassed 600 miles in just 16
days -- a daring 1863 expedition through Confederate-held territory
that severed enemy communication lines between
Vicksburg, Miss., and Confederate commanders in the
Eastern Theater. Grierson then became a career officer in the
U.S. Army, becoming a
cavalry general in the volunteer
Union Army during the remainder of the
Civil War. He later led troops in the
American Old West -- organizing and leading the
Buffalo Soldiers of the
U.S. 10th Cavalry Regiment from 1866 to 1888.
[By PHIL BERTONI]
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