Hartsburg holds Memorial Day observance at Hartsburg Union Cemetery

[June 02, 2021]   On Sunday, May 30, the Hartsburg American Legion Post 1146 held Memorial Day observance at Hartsburg Union Cemetery.

Jim Cravens of Springfield provided a brief message.

Over the weekend Cravens said he was thinking about what is going on in our country.

He said we are wrapping up the longest running war the United States has experienced. Since 9/11, over 6,700 men and women have been killed in service, some in Iraq and some in Afghanistan. That number is more than twenty times the population of Hartsburg.

Cravens said it is important to keep their memories alive. The Legion in Hartsburg will soon be disbanding after 73 years, and part of their mission has been to keep the memory alive.

In the last generation, Cravens said civic pride has been lost. Few people join organizations now.

After war is done, people will still be losing their lives. Cravens belongs to an organization called Gold Star, whose mission is to keep the memory of service members from Illinois alive.

The Gold Star organization is fond of saying people suffer death twice. The first is physical death, but Cravens said people are still alive as long as their names are remembered and spoken. He said the second death occurs when their memories are no longer kept alive, and people are forgotten.

Cravens thanked all who have served. In the military, Craven said there is a saying that everyone who takes stands up and takes the oath fills out a blank check. This check may be payable even with their lives.

Thankfully, Cravens said the number of people who make the ultimate sacrifice is low compared to the number of people who serve.

Every life is significant, so Craven said we are honoring those who signed that check and paid the ultimate price. He asked that we keep them in our thoughts.

In a benediction, Cravens prayed that everyone in attendance would continue that community service to ensure people are not forgotten. He prayed for those who have served and more importantly the memory of those who have died. Cravens closed his prayer by asking God to bless each person here.





The service drew to a close with a laying of a wreath on a tomb dedicated to all veterans followed by a 21-gun salute by the American Lincoln Post 263 Honor Guard.

[Angela Reiners]

American Legion Post 263

Guests at the Sunday service

A time of prayer

Color guard prepares for salute

Service members visit after the ceremony

Memorial dedicated to all veterans on the Hill at Hartsburg Cemetery