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Other events included a pancake and sausage
breakfast at the fire station hosted by the Methodist Men’s group.
The Memorial Day service began with a welcome by
Master of Ceremonies Linda Brooks. She asked everyone to give a big
round of applause for the band. There were eleven communities
represented in the band. Musicians from Maroa, Bloomington, Beason,
Normal, Danvers, Mackinaw, Havana, Carlock, Lincoln, Ellsworth and
Atlanta make up this band. Brooks said, “we thank you for giving up
your time.”
Brooks then recognized the committee who put the observance together
and asked them to stand. On the committee were Susan Hoblit, Karen
Horn, Billy Cheek, Helen Daugherty and Brooks. As much fun as this
is, Brooks said she would like to invite new members to join next
year.
Looking out at everyone there for the observance, Brooks said,
“thank you for joining us to honor our fallen heroes.”
Next everyone was asked to rise for the Pledge of Allegiance led by
the Atlanta Ag 4H Club.
In opening remarks by Atlanta Mayor Adam McVey, he
said how great it was to have volunteers and thanked the Memorial
Day committee that makes small town events like this one happen.
McVey then gave some history and said our nation has been
unfortunate and fortunate with victories and tragedies like the
civil war.
During the Civil War, McVey said 750,000 civilians and soldiers were
killed after the civil war people decorated graves and that time it
was known as decoration day in 1890 all the states were decorating
graves and May 30th he came designated as decoration day.
In 1971, the federal government declared that the last Monday in May
would be designated as Memorial Day to celebrate and recognize loss
and sacrifice in all the wars. Across the United States on Memorial
Day, people take a few minutes to recognize the loss and the
sacrifices soldiers and civilians gave in those past wars.
Five years ago this July, McVey lost his father, a Navy veteran of
the Korean War. Something McVey’s father was passionate about was
making sure his children and grandchildren knew he was in the Navy,
which in his eyes was the greatest. The grandchildren still remember
their grandfather’s stories about the ship he was on and being part
of the Korean War.
What McVey said we need to do is to help families
relate to the lives lost and remember the sacrifices. He challenged
veterans and families to share stories about what war they or a
family member fought in or what branch of military service they were
in.
Opening prayer was given by Dennis Smith who thanked
God for our freedom, the price paid by Christ. He expressed thanks
for the sacrifice of so many men and women who fought and ask God to
be with all who wear uniforms, to protect them and to be their
guiding force and rear guard.
After the prayer Evie Emberton read the Gettysburg Address from 160
years ago. Brooks said this two-minute speech captures the sentiment
of fallen soldiers and has been shared many times over.
Before the keynote address Brooks read the poem Freedom Isn’t Free
written by Kelly Strong. The poem reflects on the sacrifices so many
have made and the families with interrupted lives.
Brooks then introduce keynote speaker Joe Schaler, a
department commander of the Military Order of Purple Heart. Schaler
chairs the Logan County Veteran’s Assistance Commission, Central
Illinois Veteran’s Commission and Veteran’s Foundation. He is a
member of Marine Corps League 1336, the American Legion Post 159
honor guard and the VFW Post 1756.
Over the past 12 months Schaler has been a member of a coalition
formed to conserve the former Saint Clara 's nursing home in
Lincoln. They hope to repurpose the building into transitional
housing for central Illinois veterans. He and others have also spent
a great deal of time fundraising and building tiny homes for
veterans in Logan County.
As Schaler began, he said he appreciated the collection of county
people here. Schaler considers himself a voice for those not here.
In his role as Commander of the Purple Heart
Organization, Schaler has met many Gold Star families. He said there
are 386 Gold Star families in the state of Illinois and Illinois has
paid a pretty heavy price for freedom.
One particular story Schaler shared was of a lady in southern
Illinois lost her son in Iraq 18 years ago. Her son was buried on
his birthday, which was also Memorial Day. For families like that,
every day is Memorial Day.
Schaler said one of the greatest challenges for this country is to
not forget the 1,100,000 plus veterans who died in wartime. He has
served at a number of repatriations these past few years.
Scientists are working on another 34,000 veterans
they are trying to identify. Schaler said they are working
constantly on helping with DNA testing, and fortunately many of
these people are being laid to rest. He is going to serve at one
repatriation soon of two being laid to rest after 80 years.
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What Schaler says is that we all have to serve as the
voice of those lost through wartime, we need to remind their
children or grandchildren to live legacy of those for those left
behind. Unfortunately Schaler has seen for himself how brutal and
awful war can be.
At Operation Allen Brook [south of Da Nang, Vietnam] 50 years ago,
Schaler remembers being on a large tree line with miles and miles of
tunnels under it. Snipers were picking marines off at random.
Schaler and many others were scared as marines dug a hole on their
stomachs to avoid getting shot on this hot day.
On that day, Schaler said someone then jumped up suddenly charged
the tree line with a Chinese machine gun. PFC Robert Burke of the
Indian company took out a bunker and several snipers when he did
that. Soon several others then joined the charge and they found more
snipers.
Burke grew up in Monticello and died in Vietnam. He
received a Purple Heart. Schaler said that meant a lot. This young
man chose the service when his sheriff said he needed to choose to
join or go to jail. In 1988 at a ceremony in San Diego the Burke
Recruiting Station was dedicated.
As Schaler said we can debate wars legacy and what it means to
America’s war policy, but we need to remember who stands ready to
protect our freedom. For us to honor them is to speak for them and
make this country a better place.
We should remember the price paid by fallen heroes and their family
members. Schaler said these men and women represent a diverse
patchwork of this country. Rich, poor, black, white, male, female,
city or farm dwellers. They came from every ethnic background. In
short, Schaler said they look a lot like us. The one common
characteristic is they all took an oath of office that they would
die for this country if necessary.
Something else Schaler said we need to do is to ensure the memory of
these heroes and their sacrifices are not in vain. We can ensure
future generations understand the importance of sacrifices. It can
be ensured through our community services that our country remains
strong and free.
Schaler said veterans help each other and help
families. A phrase from Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address says,
“It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the
unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly
advanced.”
Today, Schaler said we are living dedicated to continuing the work
of those who have gone before us. We are dedicated to preserving the
memory of our fallen heroes. What Schaler wants everyone to remember
is their courage, sacrifice and dedication.
We need to recommit ourselves to the cause of freedom, justice and
democracy so the legacy of our fallen heroes lives on for
generations to come. Schaler said we can continue to mourn their
loss, but most of all we can celebrate their lives.
Gratitude needs to be more than once a year in a ceremony. Schaler
said we can honor those who laid their lives down for freedom by
treating our living veterans well. It is our challenge and legacy to
pass on.
Within this county, Schaler said we have been very blessed the past
few years. The Veterans Assistance Commission office, which was
established seven years ago and is overseen by Superintendent Dan
Benedict, helps families and veterans receive benefits. In 2022,
Schaler said the VAC office was able to help veterans in the county
receive a total of 8.2 million dollars in compensation. Too many
have died for that benefit.
Another thing Schaler and others are continuing to work on is the
tiny home projects in Lincoln because of the great need for
permanent homes. For each home, Schaler said they get seven
applications. As word has spread, other communities are now wanting
to follow the lead of what Lincoln is doing.
Something the Marine Corp League offers is grants, wheelchairs and
other equipment as they commit to taking care of veterans and
families. Schaler said they are committed to helping people.
In wrapping up his address, Schaler said he has left
coins on many graves through the years. Schaler planned to leave
some at camp Butler when he visited it later in the day. He closed
by thanking all who were there for the service.
Once the keynote address was done, everyone stood as Azul Kong and
Rachel Herald sang the National Anthem.
Brooks next did a veterans recognition asking those who had fought
in various wars to stand and be acknowledged. This recognition was
followed by the band playing “Armed Forces on Parade’ with songs
from each branch of the military.
Before the service ended, Linda Brooks read about pennies for
veterans with the penny salute. People can honor a fall fallen hero
by placing a coin on his or her tombstone. A penny says you didn't
know the soldier but you thank him or her for serving. A nickel
indicates the soldier was a member of your family. A dime notes that
you were in boot camp with the soldier and a quarter says you were
with the soldier when he or she died. Brooks asked people to come
forward after the service and receive a packet of pennies to put on
graves sites.
In a closing prayer led by Dennis Smith, he prayed that people would
remember the reason for the holiday. His prayer was also for the
community, all those who were at the service and all who have served
our nation.
American Legion Post 341 provided the honor Guard
salute followed by the playing of Taps.
After the service, people could purchase pork chop
sandwiches, ribeye sandwiches, chips and drinks.
Just down the street, there was a soft opening of the
American Giants Museum. The American Giants Museum is designed to
tell the story of the International Fiberglass Company. In the early
1960s, the company produced the now iconic giant Muffler Man/Paul
Bunyan statues found throughout Route 66.
Inside the museum, there will be artifacts, photos, documents and
fiberglass body parts that will share the story of the American
Giants. Some of the artifacts will be delivered and installed in
June. In July, several others will be installed. The museum will
officially open soon.
[Angela Reiners]
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