Jefferson County remembers fallen heroes on Memorial Day
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MOUNT VERNON — Three local events were held in Jefferson County over the Memorial Day weekend to honor those veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
On Monday, the American Legion Post 141 hosted the annual Mount Vernon Memorial Day service on the north side of the Jefferson County Courthouse. That same day, the Village of Bluford had its annual Memorial Day ceremony at the Bluford Community Veterans Memorial. And on Sunday, the 25th Annual Waltonville Memorial Day service was held at Knob Prairie Cemetery.
During the Mount Vernon ceremony, the American Legion Post 141 Honor Guard conducted the posting of the colors, and the national anthem was sung by Tiffany Frazier, followed by an invocation by Post 141 Chaplain Ernie Collins.
Mount Vernon City Councilman and Marine Corps Veteran Donte Moore was the featured speaker at the event, and he spoke about the significance of the Memorial Day holiday.
“This day means the world to me,” Moore said.
Moore told a story about when he first enlisted in the Marines in 1992 and was stationed in Hawaii. On Memorial Day, his platoon went on a run and passed a monument marking where some historians believe one of the first Japanese fighter aircraft or “Zeros” came down, shortly before or after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Moore’s lieutenant explained to the soldiers that this is why they serve our country, that this monument represents “hallowed ground.” From that day forward, Memorial Day has always held a special place in Moore’s heart, he said.
“This day is for the people who have given it all, the past, present and the future soldiers who have given it all,” Moore said. “This day is about what we have right now in front of us which is called freedom. We got all of this because of what these guys have given.”
Monday’s ceremony in Mount Vernon also featured the decoration of crosses by the American Legion Auxiliary, Gold Star Mother Cheryl Price-Hunsell and the Young Marines. The Post 141 Honor Guard also conducted the honor guard salute, the sounding of taps and the retiring of the colors.
Bluford’s Memorial Day ceremony was presented by the Bluford Community Veterans Memorial group, which includes the Bluford Ruritan Club, the Bluford American Legion Post 1193 and the Village of Bluford. The ceremony featured an invocation by Pastor Ronnie Mick, followed by the singing of the national anthem also by Tiffany Frazier.
There were two speakers at the Bluford event — U.S. Army Veteran Roc Parino and U.S. Congressman and Marine Mike Bost. Also, the Mount Vernon American Legion Post 141 Honor Guard presented the colors, conducted a salute and performed taps. The background music leading up to the service and PA system was provided by Blake Horton.
“It’s beautiful to see that we as a community can come together and actually honor our fallen brothers and sisters,” Parino said.
Parino spoke eloquently about the friends that he has lost from his time in the military, and also the survivor’s guilt he has felt over the years.
“The truth is that we spend too much time trying to think about, it should have been us, when the truth is your friend or that loved one, it was their time to go, God called them up,” Parino said.
Parino said that the memories of those we lose are never gone. A lot of veterans choose to focus on the pain of the loss instead of the memories that they have of those friends and loved ones, Parino said.
“So if there’s anything that I can get across to everyone, know that they died for you not because of you,” Parino said. “They loved you and they gave everything (that) they had to make sure that you could go on to tomorrow. So if you could, whenever you get a chance, just think about that, think about how much of an honor it was to know that individual and not how much of a pain it was to lose them. Because you know as well as I do, every single one of them are sitting up in heaven looking down on us hoping we’re smiling.”
Bost, who is also chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, said that too often people treat Memorial Day as just a great time to kick off the summer, not stopping to think about the meaning behind the holiday.
“We’re joining together for all the fallen and their families, and I’ll tell you there’s no part of my job that means more to me than this,” Bost said. “Memorial Day is a solemn reminder that freedom is not free. It has been bought and paid for with (the) blood, sweat (and) tears of our courageous service-members who laid down their lives so that we might live in peace. Each of us here today carries the weight of that sacrifice in our hearts.”
Through his work, Bost has been able to visit many of the most hallowed grounds and memorials for soldiers and battles around the world. This really puts things into perspective as far as learning about the generations of men and women who have “stepped up for a cause greater than themselves,” Bost said.
Bost also spoke about the important work being done to identify the remains of soldiers through DNA samples so that the family members can be notified and those soldiers can be given a burial with full honors.
“And as we reflect on the meaning of Memorial Day, let us also remember how we’re responsible for the lives we have and the way we touch other people, the way we treat other people in this nation,” Bost said. “We must ensure that our veterans receive the care and support and respect they deserve. … They have given so much and it is our duty to stand by them, to listen to their needs, and to honor their service with action. We must provide them with the resources they need to thrive in the civilian life, to heal from the wounds of war, and to pursue dreams they defend.”
Sunday’s Waltonville Memorial Day Ceremony featured guest speaker Samantha Stanford, who currently serves in the U.S. Army Reserves and who grew up in the Mount Vernon/Woodlawn area. It also included the playing of the national anthem, the reciting of the pledge of allegiance and an opening and closing prayer. In addition, VFW Post 9153 and AMVETS Post 148 Honor Guards conducted a 21-gun salute and Braden Reynolds played taps to close out the service.
