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The Post hosted an outdoor event on a beautiful
summer day that brought a large crowd into the parking lot in front
of the Legion building.
The day began with the 2023 American Legion Post
Commander Gene Hickey welcoming guests, and immediately turning the
program over to Past Commander Bob Sullivan.
Sullivan introduced introducing Ret. Colonel Jim
Allen who delivered the invocation and at the end of the day would
also deliver the benediction for the day.
Sullivan then asked that local songstress Lesleigh
Bennett come to the podium for the singing of the National Anthem.
At the end of the day, Bennett would return to lead those gathered
in singing God Bless America.
Hickey came back to the podium to offer the introduction of the
speaker of the day, Marine Corps Major, Judge Charles Feeney.
Feeney delivered a patriotic speech focused on the
sacrifices of life and liberty for the freedom we enjoy today.
Feeney began his speech saying it was good to gather to remember the
dead, those who have given all for our freedom. He opened his speech
with a remembrance of the Gettysburg Address delivered by President
Abraham Lincoln.
“We cannot dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this
ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have
consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The
world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it
can never forget what they did here.”
Feeney noted that there was little that could be done today but to
remember those who have gone. They have died for our freedom.
Feeney moved on to speak about the history of Memorial Day, which is
attributed to John A. Logan. He was responsible for having May 30th
designated as the official Memorial Day starting in 1868.
As commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, an
organization Feeney said was much like the American Legion, he
issued Grand Order 11, designating May 30th as Memorial Day, “for
the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the
graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the
late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city,
village, and hamlet churchyard in the land.”
Feeney said that it was our duty to honor those who have died and
noted that the Memorial Day charge was to have a time of remembering
and honoring those who have given all as well as their widows and
their children. He said that was the original plan and the plan that
remains.
He said that those who defended their country may not have been of
the highest intelligence, though somewhere. They may not have been
the most upright, though somewhere, regardless of their walk of life
or the way of life, they were heroes who sacrificed their dreams
such as career, love, family and much more so that our dreams could
be realized freely.
Feeney said that our freedom did not come free. There were
sacrifices that many of us could not imagine.
He told a story of Abraham Clark, a signatory of the Declaration of
Independence. Feeney said that after signing the Declaration he one
night received callers from the British Army who told Clark his sons
were being held by the British. Feeney said Clark was confused. He
didn’t understand why his sons who were perfectly innocent were
being held as prisons. He was told that his sons had been taken
because of what Clark himself was doing. He was told that all he had
to do was sign a letter denouncing his belief that American should
be independent of the British and his sons would be set free.
Clark begged the soldiers to kill him and free his
sons. The British had gotten just what they wanted, the upper hand.
They would not kill Clark, but they would kill the sons if Clark was
not willing to sign way his stand for independence.
Feeney said Clark, in great pain, remembered the closing lines of
the Declaration that he had signed, and his reaction to the British
became clear.
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Those words, “And for the support of this
Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine
Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes
and our sacred Honor” led Clark to deny the desires of the British
in spite of what it was going to cost him personally. He had to
support the whole country’s right to freedom though he would lose
his sons, it was a sacrifice for the greater good.
Clark did not sign the letter, and thus he stood for what he proved
his commitment to freedom. Many soldiers know that commitment, they
stand for freedom, knowing the cost.
He said we still understand that commitment. He
quoted President John F. Kennedy, “Let every nation know, whether it
wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden,
meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the
survival and the success of liberty.”
Feeney said we still live today, knowing the cost. What will it cost
me in my career, my life, what will I give up what will I lose? He
said that if anyone thinks these questions do not cross the minds of
soldiers as they make that commitment to our country, they would be
wrong. Soldiers do face these questions, and they make their
decisions. And the choices they make are for us and our freedom.
He recalled the famous words by Patrick Henry, “Is life so dear, or
peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and
slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may
take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!”
Feeney finished his speech by completing the Gettysburg Address as
it was delivered by President Lincoln. “The brave men, living and
dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor
power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long
remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did
here. 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. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task
remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased
devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of
devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have
died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of
freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the
people, shall not perish from the earth.”
Feeney concluded saying Freedoms Bells are ringing
loud today for those that have fought and those who will. He said we
should leave the day with thankfulness for those who understood the
sacrifices and made the decision anyway to defend our country.
He said we should always remember the fallen, and their loved ones
who are left to carry on. He said, “May God hold dearly their loved
ones, may God grant us permanent peace, may God always allow freedom
to ring forth for this great nation, and may God bless the United
States of America.”
When Feeney had left the podium, Sullivan returned to
announce the traditional laying of the wreath by Auxiliary
representatives.
As the wreath was being put into place, the American
Legion Post 263 Color Guard stood at attention with the flags, and a
three-shot volley was delivered as soon as the wreath was in place.
Following the volley was the playing of taps.
Before the day was called to a halt, Sullivan reminded guests that
the Legion annually hosts the Memorial Day Services which is an
observance of fallen soldiers. Veterans Day on the other hand is an
observance of all soldiers. He asked that the audience make a point
of attending the Veterans Day services this November 11th at the
Cronin Brothers VFW.
Hickey presented certificates of membership recognition to a few
veterans noting their 50-year memberships to the Lincoln American
Legion Post 263.
As guests were dismissed from the ceremony, they were all invited to
stay and attend the annual Cornbread and bean lunch provided by the
American Legion in the banquet room of the Legion building. Many
guests took the invitation to heart and gathered inside for the
traditional lunch.
[Nila Smith] |
