Published May 31, 2011, 12:00 AM
Service of remembrance held at Greenwood Cemetery
Acres of flags fluttered in a stiff wind Monday morning for the Memorial Day Service in Greenwood Cemetery.By: Molly Miron, Bemidji Pioneer
|
Memorial Day Photos 2011
|
|||
|
Published May 31, 2011, 12:00 AM Acres of flags fluttered in a stiff wind Monday morning for the Memorial Day Service in Greenwood Cemetery. More than 100 people sang The Star Spangled Banner, with Joe Vene listened to the speakers, bowed their heads in prayer and saluted the Stars and Stripes. Ralph Gracie Post 14 Chaplain Chris Settle thanked God of the opportunities in the United States. As a response to the valor and devotion of comrades who defended those opportunities and rights, Settle prayed, “Give us the power to see and the power to do the right.” Ralph Gracie Post Auxiliary Vice President Stella Wakanabo reminded the audience that defenders of freedom paid the ultimate price “so that we might have what our Constitution offers.” The keynote speaker, Command Sgt. Maj. Doug Julin of the 34th Infantry Division, echoed the same sentiments and pointed out that Memorial Day commemorates all the wars and warriors who have kept the nation free with “their last full measure of devotion to their country.” “Today and every day we need to recognize the sacrifices of our men and women of the Armed Forces,” he said, thanking veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam and Desert Storm.
Following Julin’s remarks, Ralph Gracie Post Commander Pat Hede and Wakanabo placed wreaths at the foot of the half-staff flags. He also expressed gratitude to soldiers currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Settle and Auxiliary Chaplain Darlene Peterson continued the solemn commemoration by reading the names of members who have died during the last 12 months. The American Legion Firing Squad snapped out a rifle salute, and Maija Otness and Abby Lindseth closed the ceremony with Taps and an echo.
After the service, the audience walked to the eastern end of the cemetery to the Grand Army of the Republic Monument to listen to Bemidji’s Boys State Representative JC Cervanka recite Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.
|
