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 The program was led by Christian Village Administrator Jo
Hilliard, and Director of Independent Living Services, Julie King.
Special guests were the American Legion Color Guard.
The afternoon began with Hilliard, King, and Edgecombe leading the
group in a few patriotic songs. As the ceremony began, the Color
Guard marched in and presented the United States Flag to the group.
In the front row of the audience, most all of the attendees were
veterans who reside at the Christian Village.
The event was formally called a Flag Folding Ceremony. The flag that
was to be folded, Edgecombe explained, had been flown over
Washington D.C. last fall on Veterans Day. It would be folded and
installed in a wooden triangle, to be displayed in the Village’s new
Memory Care Center once it is completed.
Edgecombe also pointed out a new feature in the dining room, a
Veterans Wall. There are Veteran Walls in the Skilled Nursing and
Assisted Living building and the garden apartments area that hold
photos of the Veterans living in those respective areas.
 Edgecombe began his discussion talking about the history of Memorial
Day. It was founded directly after the Civil War by John Logan, and
was officially called Decoration Day.
Edgecombe read a well-known poem, In Flander’s Fields. He drew
attention to one particular phrase, "To you from failing hands we
throw the torch to yours to hold it high." He noted, “Not only are
we observing Memorial Day, Decoration Day, today we are also
dedicating our Wall of Honor, our Veterans Wall. So when I read the
words of that poem, 'with our failing hands we throw to yours to
hold it high,' I have a lot of gratitude, a lot of joy. Because I
can look at this wall, I can look at our veterans gathered here
today, and I can say I know there have been others who have grabbed
that torch, and held it high. We are here today because brave men
and women have not only fought and died for this nation, but have
lived for this nation.”
He said the veteran residents of Christian Village were living
torches.
After closing in prayer, Edgecombe called the Color Guard to fold
the flag. The flag was then presented to Christian Village resident
and veteran, Richard Miller, who accepted the flag on behalf of all
veterans at the Christian Village.
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As the flag was being folded.
Color Guard leader Bob Sullivan spoke, “This banner of love and
devotion now being folded is a memorial to all our comrades who
passed on through the years.”
He went on to explain the colors of the flag with blue representing the sky that
overlooks the land and God eternal. The red stripes represented the blood, sweat
and tears of soldiers who defended the land, and the white stripes represented a
hope and desire for peace in our nation.
When the flag was folded, Sullivan placed it inside a wooden triangle being held
by Miller. King led the group in singing, God Bless America.
With the flag presented, Hilliard said the Logan County Quilters Guild had made
patriotic lap blankets for all the veterans at Christian Village. She, King,
Edgecombe and Christian Village community liaison, Julie Bobell, handed out
blankets to all the veterans present.
After closing prayer had been offered by Hilliard, all the veterans in the room
were called to the front for a group photo. The group photo comprised resident
veterans plus one staff member who is a veteran.
The Christian Village is celebrating many milestones this year. In their 50th
year, they have made the commitment to expand their services and a new building
project is underway. The Veteran Walls in each of the living areas are new this
year. The flag folded on Monday will be set aside to go into in the new Memory
Care Center.
[Nila Smith]
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