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Saline County residents gathered Monday at the Veterans Memorial at the county courthouse to pay tribute to the military men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.  Bob Parker, commander of the Benton American Legion post, salutes after placing a wreath on the Iraq monument at the Saline County Courthouse Veterans Memorial. (Courier photos by Lynda Hollenbeck)
The Memorial Day ceremony was conducted by representatives of Post 2256 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the VFW Auxiliary.
 Attending the annual Memorial Day ceremony at the Saline County Courthouse are, from left, Gene Cagle, Bob Parker, Mary Cagle and Betty English. All took part in the event.
Stephanie Langley, president of the VFW Auxiliary, said in her welcome that the day is set aside “to remember and say thank you to our fallen heroes.”
She urged people to “not only take this day but every day to always remember that freedom is not free” and depends on the “sacrifices of our veterans.”
Roger Lee, a Vietnam veteran who serves as commander of Post 2256, was the principal speaker.
Lee shared the history of Memorial Day, noting that 142 years have passed since a drug store owner in Waterloo, N.Y., suggested that all businesses close for a day to honor “in a solemn and and patriotic manner, the fallen soldiers who lost their lives during the Civil War.”
He pointed out that “for one day businesses closed, widows placed wildflowers on fresh graves, townspeople made wreaths and crosses to place upon the headstones, flags waved proudly at half-staff ... and an American tradition was born.”
Lee said Memorial Day brings “something different for everyone — memories of fallen comrades, friends, sons, daughters, brothers and sisters. It brings with it a solemn state of mind and a burning desire to honor those who so proudly stood behind the ideals upon which this great country was founded and were willing to fight for what’s right.”
Sharing a Memorial Day ceremony quote from the late Gen. George Patton, Lee said: “In my mind we came here to thank God that men like these lived rather than regret that they died.”
Lee asked that others “embrace Patton’s words in their entirety.”
“Today, we celebrate the contributions of those who have paid the ultimate price in the name of freedom and peace,” Lee said. “We celebrate those who served in conflict to protect our land, those who surrendered their dreams to preserve the hope of our nation and who fought to keep America free.
“We need to recognize their service, respect their devotion to duty and mirror their devotion by doing whatever it takes to ensure the purpose for which they fought will forever be remembered,” Lee said.
He added: “It is our obligation to teach our youth that nothing comes without cost and that sacrifices are meaningless without remembrance.”
He said fallen heroes “loved their country, so they readily endured long periods of time on dangerous foreign lands. They cherished freedom and, above all, they valued life, yet without hesitation bravely stood ready to give their own in the name of God and country.” The preservation of “heroes’ spirits, dreams and sacrifices” should be encouraged, Lee said.
“My hope is that we all leave here today with a renewed sense of patriotism and hope, because hope embodies what has made our nation great.”
Quoting Gen. James A. Garfield, he said: “They summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtues ... . For love of country they accepted death and thus resolved all doubts and made immortal their patriotism and virtue.”
Following are others who participated in the ceremony:
•Mary Cagle, representing the Traskwood American Legion Auxiliary, who placed a wreath on the Korean monument.
•Gene Cagle, representing the 40 and 8, who placed a wreath on the Persian Gulf monument.
•Betty English, who placed a wreath on the Daughters of the American Revolution monument.
•Bob Parker, commander of the Benton American Legion, who placed a wreath on the Iraq monument.
•Lois Tamariz and Carol Williams, representing the VFW Auxiliary, who placed a wreath on the Vietnam monument.
Presenting the colors were Chief Matthew Hawkins and E-3 Christopher Giblin of the Little Rock Division, Naval Sea Cadets. Lt. Mike McCuen, who serves as operations officer for the cadets, also was present.
Leading the pledge of allegiance were members of Boy Scout troops 36 and 53 of Benton and Bauxite
Megan Polk sang the national anthem; Bobbye Leake, chaplain of the VFW Auxiliary, gave the invocation; Kim Hammer, a chaplain for Saline Memorial Hospital and for the Saline County Chaplains Association, gave the closing prayer; and Andrew Gagen blew taps to conclude the event.
Recognized at the event were County Judge Lanny Fite; state Sen. Shane Broadway; Prosecuting Attorney Ken Casady; Circuit Judge Gary Arnold; and Ruben Tamariz, a past state commander of the VFW.
Following the ceremony, a picnic was held at the VFW Lodge. |
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