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 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] |
