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Master of Ceremonies Linda Brooks welcomed and
thanked everyone for coming to the service to help honor fallen
veterans. She gave special thanks to the Atlanta Public Library,
Larry Collins and the Memorial Day Committee for all their hard work
planning the day. Besides Brooks, the committee included Billie
Cheek, Helen Daugherty, Susan Hoblit and Nancy Miller. Brooks
invited community members to join the committee.
Next, Brooks thanked Angie and Ed Harrison and their volunteers for
placing the flags around downtown Atlanta for the day.
Brooks said Daughtery had done research on the Atlanta flags and
found several facts. For instance, Carl and Mary Smith started the
project [of putting up flags downtown] in 1988. Carl Smith even
built the cart that stores the flags.
There are 386 flags in all, though Brooks said not all of them are
up for every occasion. One of these flags represents Tom M. Smith,
who was born in 1843 and served in the Civil War.
Because Angie Harrison is the granddaughter of Carl and Mary Smith,
Brooks said Harrison is carrying on a vital and important family
tradition. Brooks said the Harrisons are always looking for
volunteers to help put up and take down the flags. Brooks asked
everyone to give the Harrisons and their volunteers a round of
applause.
After the welcome by Brooks, young Autumn Emberton
led everyone in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance followed by
remarks from Atlanta Mayor Adam McVey.
McVey said volunteers like Brooks and others help
make these events happen. Many places do not hold these events
anymore due to not having enough volunteers and the commitment of
the town and the community. Therefore, McVey is thankful for those
who help make this event happen in Atlanta as we set aside a day to
honor veterans who gave their lives so we may have the freedoms we
have today.
On this special day, McVey shared a little history of the past and
then a little bit about the future. He shared some information about
his family and about how we can honor veterans in the future.
Many of McVey’s family members served our country.
McVey’s father Fred McVey served in the Korean War. His uncle Elmer
McVey served in the Air Force.
Another family member McVey said served was Bob Hancock, his
father-in-law, a Korean War veteran who served in the Navy. Mike
Hancock, McVey’s brother-in-law was a career Marine and served on
two Presidential squadrons with Ronald Reagan and George Bush.
McVey’s nephew Rob Griffith was in the army and served three tours
in Iraq. McVey said unfortunately, Rob ended his life in 2010 at
only 23. McVey’s youngest son Riley served five years in the Marine
Corps.
Of the ones McVey mentioned, he said his son is the only one of them
still living. His story is similar to every one of those families
who have flags flying in honor of a veteran.
Going forward, McVey said we must remember and continue the
tradition [of putting up flags]. McVey’s brother-in-law Mike spent
40 years in the Marine Corps ending his career as Director of Safety
at the Quantico Air Base in Virginia. Though Mike was diagnosed with
esophageal cancer in 2022 and died last year, McVey said his legacy
lives on in many ways at the Virginia Air Base and will live on in
Atlanta.
As for the future, McVey said we need to support our current
veterans and veterans in need.
At last year’s Memorial Day Service, McVey said the speaker was Joe
Schaler, President of the Illinois Veteran’s Commission. The
Veteran’s Commission is building homes for veterans in need.
After hearing Schaler speak, McVey said he and others were motivated
to find a place in Atlanta to build homes for veterans. Through
McVey and the work of the City Council, they were able to find a
location.
On June 6 at 6:00 p.m., McVey said there will be a
groundbreaking for two veteran’s homes at 106 NE Second Street in
Atlanta.
During the school year, McVey said Schaler and others took 2 x 4
boards that will be used to build the homes to area high schools in
a 50 to 60 mile radius from Atlanta. Schaler had the youth sign
them. McVey said Schaler encourages the schools to find a way to get
students to come participate in the building or at least see the
house that is being built.
For McVey, the veteran houses project is an example of how small
towns can serve veterans and move forward with community activities.
Even if you cannot help with building the homes, he said there are
other ways to help like providing storage.
Larry Collins led the opening prayer. Collins thanked
God for those who fought and died in the Civil War to liberate
slaves and establish a country based on God’s ideals. He said life,
liberty and the freedom to pursue our dreams make America great. For
that, Collins said “we are deeply indebted to you and to the people
who shed their blood and gave their life in order that we might be
free.”
On this day, Collins said we are here to remember those have given
their lives and he expressed thanks to God for their courage and
sacrifice. He prayed they would be an example to all. In closing,
Collins prayed the Lord would bless everyone there and bless the
nation.
Young Evie Emberton read the Gettysburg Address. This
address, which Brooks said Abraham Lincoln gave 161 years, is a good
way to remember our freedoms.
Next up was Connie Wertheim, who read Kelly Strong’s
poem Freedom Isn’t Free. The poem is a reminder of the sacrifices
many veterans have made in the name of freedom to help ensure our
country remains free. It serves as a reminder our freedom is not
free.
The Atlanta Museum has a new exhibit titled Armed Forces Memorial
Hall. Wertheim said it is a tribute to the men and women from
Atlanta who have served in the military. She encouraged everyone to
go view this special exhibit.
Before Sergeant Reilly Gallagher gave the keynote
address, Brooks introduced her. Gallagher currently lives in Atlanta
and is a Recruiter and Retention Non-Commissioned Officer (RRNCO) in
the Illinois National Guard.
As a member of the National Guard for nine years, Brooks said
Gallagher served on a tour doing flood duty, then a COVID mission.
Gallagher’s most recent tour of duty was in Iraq.
Gallagher said she was honored to be at the service representing the
Illinois National Guard, the community, our state and the nation.
There are lot of reasons we pause on this day. She said the reasons
depend on our perspective, experience or understanding of what today
means.
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Many remember attending Memorial Day events as
children. Gallagher said to us it meant the unofficial start of
summer vacation. Some may have choppy memories of events like this
one where the American flags seem to be everywhere blowing in the
breeze. She said others may recall wreaths being placed on a statue
or monument by old guys in pointy hats from the local VFW or someone
in uniform giving a speech to a large crowd.
As we got older, Gallagher said most of us came to understand that
Memorial Day is a federal holiday for remembering and honoring
persons who have died while in service to the United States.
For some of us, Gallagher said our perspective of this holiday is
distant and detached, which is okay.
On Memorial Day, Gallagher said we know we are honoring 620,000
soldiers who died during the Civil War, the 116,000 Americans who
died during World War I and the 417,000 who died during World War
II.
For some, Gallagher said the understanding is a little more recent
and closer to home. They may related to someone or have a connection
to one of 112,000 who died in Korea or Vietnam.
Closer still, Gallagher said some of us have fond memories of a
friend or loved one who lost their lives during the Gulf War, the
bombing of the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia or the U.S.S. Cole
bombing in Yemen.
Most immediately, Gallagher said some of us have
pictures or videos on our phones that we flip through when we long
for those lost in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Across all these perspectives distant or near, Gallagher said we
come together to honor the men and women who raised their right
hands and swore to defend our nation and its constitution. To each
of them, it meant protecting their families, their friends and the
freedoms and institutions that give us joy and hope. Gallagher said
they embarked on a life of long hours away from home willing their
bodies to carry on when they were cold, tired and hungry, but they
were on a mission.
These soldiers worked diligently to hone their craft so when called
to use their skill, Gallagher said they would uphold a sacred oath
to defend our nation and our freedoms. They knew and their friends
and families knew their service may end violently on foreign soil
far away from their loved ones.
Additionally, Gallagher said the men and women we honor today had a
perspective either distant or near of Memorial Day. They knew we
would gather on Memorial Day to honor them and knowing that gave
them comfort. She said they knew the ideas and principles they lived
for would live on. Traditions that would reinforce their principles
like this event will continue and the cost of their freedom will not
be forgotten.
These soldiers may have known the perspectives of their work may
change as time goes on, but Gallagher said that is okay.
As Gallagher said, those of us here at events like this one across
the nation owe a debt to the men and women we honor. She called it
our duty to protect the ideals and principles of this nation.
After the Civil War ended, Gallagher said President Abraham Lincoln
advised us on how to repay our debt to fallen heroes when he said we
should “care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his
widow, and for his orphan.”
Whether through community groups or relationships with others,
Gallagher said there are ample opportunities for us to repay this
nation for the blood of the men and women we honor today.
Speaking to everyone at the service, Gallagher said people should
get involved beyond this event and get to know veterans. Friendships
and personal relationships are extremely valuable, and they may save
a life.
A report by the Veteran’s Administration says every 65 minutes in
this country, a veteran commits suicide. Gallagher said there are
resources focused on this issue, but a friend in time of need may be
the best tool to end this crisis.
There are more than a few nonprofit organizations
which focus on suicide intervention and prevention and Gallagher is
sure each one would welcome new volunteers. Gallagher would like to
see people get more involved in helping.
It is okay for school children to see Memorial Day as an unofficial
start of summer vacation, but Gallagher said their perspectives are
going to change.
The new perspective Gallagher offered everyone was that Memorial Day
is a day to renew our commitment to the cause for our service
members and [our commitment to] the ideals and principles for which
so many have given their lives.
It takes effort and planning to execute a Memorial Day event.
Gallagher said I know you all share my gratitude and appreciation
for the men and women who worked so hard to put the event together.
While Memorial Day is a federal holiday, Gallagher said we are not
required by law to pause and honor our fallen heroes. She said we do
this [event] because it’s tradition.
American author Frank Sonnenberg writes that tradition gives us an
identity and brings us a sense of comfort and belonging. Traditions
reinforce our values and provide a forum to showcase role models and
thank those who have made a great contribution to our lives.
Sonnenberg said traditions serve to create lasting memories and
offer clear context for our meaningful pauses and reflection.
No matter how we see this day or what our feelings are on this day,
Gallagher said it is likely different than last year, the year
before or many years ago.
It is Gallaghers hope for people to see Memorial Day differently
with greater meaning and purpose in the days ahead. She said perhaps
the day will be an annual tradition for you to renew your commitment
to care for those who have borne the battle and for his widow and
his orphan .
On behalf of those honored today and the 13,000 men and women in the
Illinois National Guard, Gallagher thanked everyone for continued
support.
Reagan Bell led the National Anthem. Afterwards,
Brooks did a veteran recognition asking veterans to stand when she
read the name of the war they fought in. Though just a few were in
attendance, Brooks said we need to remember the sacrifices of those
who fought.
YouTube Video - Wayne White
sings Some Gave All
“Some Gave All,” which was sung by Wayne White, reminded everyone of
the sacrifice of life some made when fighting in the wars.
In his closing prayer, Collins thanked God for those who made
sacrifices and prayed we may continue to live freely. He also asked
God to give us the courage to stand for the country.
The service ended with an honor guard salute led by
American Legion Post 341 and the playing of taps.
Several people went to the Atlanta Museum after the service to see
the memorial tribute to local veterans.
[Angela Reiners]
Related Links:
https://www.thememorialdaytribute.com/
memorial-day-poems/freedom-is-not-free.html
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