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The Memorial Day Services were hosted by the Mt.
Pulaski American Legion Post 447 and led by Lt. Col. Joe Lucas, USAF,
Ret..
The day began in town, at the Mt. Pulaski Cemetery at 10 a.m. A
large crowd gathered at the top of the knoll in the cemetery where
stands a large monument dedicated to all those who have served in
the United States Military branches.
In addition to the many guests, the local boy scouts
were present, standing at attention with the American Flag and their
troop flag dancing in the wind. The Mt. Pulaski fire department and
Emergency Services were on hand and set wreathes at the base of the
monument. Also on hand was the Mt. Pulaski American Legion Color
Guard who stood at attention throughout the ceremony, and then
delivered the three-shot volley and the playing of Taps at the end
of the event.
Mt. Pulaski Mayor Matt Bobell was invited to deliver
a welcoming speech following the morning’s opening prayer by Pastor
Johathan Buescher.
Mayor Bobell welcomed all those in attendance and thanked them for
coming to recognize the purpose of Memorial Day. This town and
community has been very grateful of its veterans and I am proud to
be a part of that. He drew attention to the more than 90 posters
that adorned the side of the hill below the Veteran Memorial stone.
He said that the poster had been placed by Mt. Pulaski High School
students and he thanked them for their contribution to the Memorial
Day observance. He thanked the American Legion for hosting the
annual program and said that he had learned that the Mt. Pulaski
post has hosted Memorial Day Services for the past 60 years. He
thanked them for their dedication.
The next item on the program was the presentation of
wreaths that included wreaths placed on behalf of local
organizations, followed immediately by the placing of flowers by
area youth. Children lined up, and one by one laid live cut flowers
of many varieties at the foot of the monument.
As the service began, the flag on the pole at the
monument had been at half-staff. After the placing of the wreaths
and flowers, the Star Spangled Banner was played over the sound
system while the flag was raised to full mast.
From the left: Kalli Galassi Jayden
Cherry, Dean Mileham, Gesiah Siebert, and Sarah Benhart
In addition to the recognition of the day, there were
special presentations for five students of the Mt. Pulaski grade and
high schools.
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The American Legion scholarship winners were
announced, and the two senior recipients came to the podium to
accept their awards. This year’s winners are Jayden Cherry and Dean
Mileham.
Video of presentation of scholarships
The scholarships are sponsored by the American Legion, the Sons of
the American Legion and the Legion Auxiliary.
Three grade school students were recognized has having winning
entries in the Somes of the American Legion essay contest. The theme
for this year was “What Memorial Day means to me. Gessiah Siebert,
Sarah Benhart and Kalli Galassi each came to the podium and read
their essays.
Gessiah Siebert reads his essay, What Memorial
Day Means to Me
Sarah Benhart reads her essay, What Memorial Day Means to Me
Kallie Galassi reads
her essay, What Memorial Day Means to me
The guest speaker for the day was Sargeant Eric Cowan with the
Illinois State Police. Sargeant Cowan kept his speech short,
speaking about “We before Me.”
“Every task we undertake it is imperative that we
prioritize the greater good and not personal achievement,” he said.
“We put the needs of the team, the community, the nation before our
own interest, to lock the full potential and combined strength.” He
urged each person there to embrace the We before Me.
Cowan said that the day was for gathering to honor
great men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to
our country. He said that while we pause to reflect we should dwell
on the profound debt we owe those who laid down their lives for the
values and freedoms we hold dear.
He spoke about the first Memorial Day following the civil war and
said it was a time of realization that the price of liberty and
freedom is often paid in blood. He said the same has held true
through each generation of conflict from World War I to the battles
in the fields of Iraq.
He said that the day was for remembering those who have fallen, but
should also be a day of recognizing those who are left behind. He
said, “As we remember those fallen heroes, we should remember and
recommit to the values for which they fought. We should continue to
work toward a nation where God is at the front and peace reigns.”
Following Cowan’s speech, the Legion Color guard
delivered the three-shot volley then Taps was played. Pastor
Buescher delivered the parting blessing.
The Memorial Day celebration for the American Legion color guard
then moved on to Vonderlieth Living Center where Veterans in
residence there were greeted and saluted by the color guard.
The second cemetery observance was held at 11:30 a.m.
at Steenbergen Cemetery outside of town. It was noted that the
cemetery is recognized by its Memorial Day Avenue of flags, and that
this year there are 178 full size American flags lining the paved
roadways throughout the cemetery.
The program held at the chapel at Steenbergen was much the same as
the program held at the Mt. Pulaski Cemetery.
[Nila Smith] |
