Latest news with #HonorGuard
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
300 people attend funeral of Springfield veteran with no known family
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — They didn't know him, and he didn't know them, but that didn't stop 300 people from attending a Vietnam veteran's funeral last week. Robert Neff died at the age of 79 with no known family. The public was invited to his funeral on Friday, and Central Illinois showed up in force. 'Every stone here is a story': Fallen veterans honored at Camp Butler during Memorial Day ceremony As Neff was laid to rest, hundreds of people attended the funeral service, including active duty servicemembers, veterans, Honor Guard members, Patriot Guard riders and civilians. 'This morning, when I got up, I would've been happy with 15 or 20 people,' said Jerry Curry of Curry Funeral Home. 'But the community just came out in droves, and it was a very humbling experience.' Every branch of the military was there to honor Neff. He is buried at Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
'Nobody is truly gone until they are forgotten': Residents remember the fallen on Memorial Day
May 27—VFW Post 447 Quarter Master Greg Sundholm encouraged those in attendance at the Memorial Day ceremony at Graceland Cemetery to remember those who have died in service of this country. "Nobody is truly gone until they are forgotten," Sundholm said during his remarks. Paraphrasing Gen. George S. Patton, Sundholm said it is wrong to mourn those who died — instead people should be thankful that they lived. The ceremony at Graceland Cemetery was one of several slated throughout the area at various cemeteries. The Honor Guard started the day at Lakewood Cemetery, followed by ceremonies at St. Theodore Catholic Cemetery, Hillcrest Cemetery and the Freeborn County veterans memorial. There was also the 53rd annual wreath drop ceremony on Fountain Lake by pilot Jim Hanson. Sundholm, who said he signed up for the delayed enlistment program in 1987 as a high school junior because he wanted to work on airplanes, left for basic training in December 1988. He said he was stationed to Strategic Air Command in upstate New York, where his primary job was nuclear deterrence. He later served in the 416th Bomb Wing, where he worked on B-52 bombers and KC-135 tankers, before Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait and he was ultimately deployed. He said when he left active duty, he joined the 934th Airlift Wing, looking for an aircraft job, but they didn't have one, so he then became a weapons instructor and armorer. He medically retired in 1997. 'As I learned in my time in the military, we build on traditions of the past for the future," Sundholm said, noting that he learned many lessons and gained a connection to those who are honored on Memorial Day. He said exposure to them gives him a desire to be better than they are they before at the very least. VFW Post 447 Cmdr. Bob Sharp read from an article he recently shared. He said in every society there are many callings — whether it be firefighters, teachers, caregivers or statesmen. But the path of the warrior is one of the most difficult. "Throughout history, warriors have been called upon to protect their families, communities and countries — to fight for others' safety and freedom, knowing that this path of service may include their life and the suffering of their loved ones." He said it requires courage, commitment and resilience and said no one desires peace more than the warriors and their families because they know the true cost of war. "These warriors have never sought war, but they never flinched when their country called," he said. "It's through their actions that we enjoy the blessings of liberty, and through the tears of their families that we have the freedoms we all take for granted." The ceremony also included a placing of the wreaths by representatives from area veterans organizations, as well as the Minnesota National Guard, Gold Star family Don and Deb Goodnature, and POW-MIA representative Al "Minnow" Brooks. There were also several musical selections by Debbie Nordland, along with a military medley, as well as a volley fire by the American Legion Post 56 Honor Guard and taps by bugler Ed Nelson of American Legion Post 56.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Hundreds gather at Memorial Day services in Grand Forks to remember 'high price of freedom'
May 26—GRAND FORKS — Hundreds gathered for Memorial Day events in Grand Forks on Monday, May 26, to remember those who have given their lives in service to the country. On a sunny day with hardly any breeze — a stark contrast to the rainy weather that played havoc on events in 2024 — the crowds honored the fallen men and women during events that included Honor Guard salutes, speeches, music and readings. "It's not about the veterans who are living, but the ones who have passed," emcee Bobby Beauchamp said after the VFW/Disabled American Veterans event at Memorial Park Cemetery South late Monday morning. "That's what we don't want to forget." The first of the two events was the American Legion Post 6 service at Memorial Park North Cemetery. Col. Timothy Monroe, commander of the 319th Reconnaissance Wing, Grand Forks Air Force Base, addressed a crowd of more than 200 people. He implored attendees to remember the true meaning behind Memorial Day. "It is about courage, it is about sacrifice and it most certainly is about remembering the high price of freedom," Monroe said. Every headstone tells a story, and every name represents a life cut short, he said. It is the duty of those who still live to ensure these stories are not forgotten and the gift of freedom is never lost, he said. Organized by the Grand Forks American Legion Post 6, the morning ceremony featured performances by the Grand Forks City Band, Post 6 Color Guard and Grand Forks Air Force Base Color Guard. Taps and Echo was performed by Joel Ness and Sandra Iverson, while Post 6 Vice-Commander Chris Davis served as emcee. A firing squad salute was carried out by the Grand Forks Air Force Base Honor Guard. There were a number of readings and prayers shared throughout the event and wreaths were presented in honor of all who have died in their respective lines of service. Jenny Jansen, attending the Post 6 ceremony in support of her sister — who is a member of the Air Force — said she was struck by Monroe's speech. "Every word is true," she said. "(The people who fought) need to be honored. Every country should have a day like this, so that people think about what (others) did for them." Jansen recalled how the U.S. has helped protect Europeans in the past, and said she hopes for continued support during the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. "The Ukrainian war is giving us a lot of fear," Jansen said. "Everybody hopes that America and Europe will still be a unit, that they will not go away and that they still care for Europe. This is my prayer — that Americans and Europeans will stick together." Jansen said she felt blessed to be at the ceremony, tearfully recalling her father, who she said served in the Vietnam and Korean wars. Jansen was born in Germany, and still lives there with her husband, but her father was an American and she considers the United States to be her home as well. "It's the land of the free," she said. Later Monday morning, at the VFW/Disabled American Veterans event at Memorial Park Cemetery South, keynote speaker Joel Medd spoke about his experiences with the Honor Flight program, which provides complimentary flights for veterans from the region to see veterans-related sites in Washington, D.C. "When we got home, many of you perhaps were there at the airport to welcome us home. There was a band, flags waving, and many of you were there. As we came down the escalator, many of us had tears in our eyes, including myself," Medd said of the flight's return to Grand Forks. "Many of us Vietnam veterans didn't get a welcome home." That event in Grand Forks, Medd said, thus became that missing welcome home. Beauchamp, a past state commander of the DAV, said he enjoyed handling the emcee duties at the VFW/DAV ceremony, which drew more than 150 attendees. "We couldn't have ordered a better day. The crowd was very uplifting for this solemn occasion," Beauchamp said after the event concluded. "I just really enjoy taking part in this type of occasion. It's what we all live for. For people to show up, that's what it's all about." Last year, the American Legion event was canceled due to rain, while the VFW/DAV event was moved indoors and shortened.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Charlotte-area communities celebrate Memorial Day, honor fallen service members
Communities across the Charlotte area honored those who paid the ultimate sacrifice by volunteering, laying flags, attending memorial services, and more on Memorial Day this year. At Gethsemane Cemetery and Memorial Gardens in North Charlotte, many gathered for an outdoor service. Veterans spoke about their time in service. Some gave speeches about those they lost in the line of duty. Doves were released in honor of those who fought and died for freedom. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's Honor Guard performed a special presentation. Vietnam veteran Richard A. Lewis told Channel 9 that Memorial Day is an important part of remembering every soldier's sacrifice. 'We have to recognize the sacrifices that the veterans that came before us and the veterans who were with me when I was in Vietnam,' he said. 'They always showed up for their duty.' In Kannapolis, city leaders had to cancel a parade due to weather, but they moved their ceremony indoors. First Sergeant Terry Rodell, who has retired from the U.S. Marine Corps, gave a speech and was accompanied by several musical performances. In Salisbury, the rain didn't stop hundreds of volunteers from showing their appreciation for fallen soldiers. The volunteers placed over 6,500 American flags on the graves of fallen soldiers at Salisbury National Cemetery Annex. READ: New Charlotte Museum of History exhibit celebrates Meck Dec day, Charlotte history Afterward, everyone enjoyed a hot breakfast at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall. And a local non-profit was working to make sure veterans felt seen on Memorial Day, said the organization's founder. The Veterans Social Center is a space for honorably discharged veterans who are facing mental health challenges. The center in the West End Plaza is filled with memorabilia, mental health resources, and support for veterans. WATCH: New Charlotte Museum of History exhibit celebrates Meck Dec day, Charlotte history
Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- General
- Chicago Tribune
‘It's honoring those who gave all': Chesterton commemorates Memorial Day
Don Pratt reported for duty as he always does every Memorial Day as a member of the Honor Guard for American Legion Post 170 in Chesterton. Pratt's job is to hold the American flag upright. He has made one concession in that he brings a chair with him nowadays. After all, he is 92 years old. This was the 46th year in a row he has come to the Chesterton Cemetery, where the Legion holds its annual Memorial Day event. American Legion Commander Daryl Peterson pointed out how Pratt was faithfully there again to the 100 people who gathered around the flagpole Monday morning under brilliant sunny, blue skies. Pratt deflects the attention away from himself. The Chesterton native served in the Army during the 1950s and says he was 'too young for Korea and too old for Vietnam.' Among the gravestones that stretch out at Chesterton Cemetery are those who served in or were casualties of American wars past. Allan Alliss recently moved from Chesterton to Leesburg, Fla. Since he was in town, Alliss put on his Vietnam Veteran hat and made his way over to the Chesterton Cemetery. 'To honor those who served, who gave everything there was to give,' Alliss said in explaining why he was compelled to come. Alliss served with the Marine Corps in Vietnam from 1966 to 1968. He worked in the office in the support of an air unit. As he stood in Chesterton Cemetery, Alliss thought of the one pilot from his unit who didn't return home. 'Not only on days like today, but throughout my life I've thought about him,' Alliss said. Not far from where Alliss stood, George Kelchak, 98, of Chesterton was there in a wheelchair. Kelchak wore a hat for the 88th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army with whom he proudly served in Yugoslavia during World War II. 'What brings me out is to celebrate Memorial Day. I look forward to it every year,' Kelchak said. Tony Reales, 64, had his homemade walking stick with him when he attended the Memorial Day ceremony at St. Patrick's Cemetery, which immediately preceded the event at the Chesterton Cemetery. On his walking stick are stones shaped as hearts, representing his wife and two daughters who are deceased. Reales was in the U.S. Navy for 8 years and was on a ship in the Indian Ocean during the Iran hostage crisis in 1979. 'Memorial Day is very meaningful to me because it's honoring those who literally gave all for our freedom,' Reales said. Reales said he instructs people not to wish him a happy Memorial Day. 'It's not a celebration. It's honoring those who gave all.' Chesterton High School history teacher Bob DeRuntz, the keynote speaker, extemporaneously delivered an eloquent meditation on the importance of Memorial Day. DeRuntz started with Abraham Lincoln and the dilemma he faced in deciding what to say with the Gettysburg Address in 1863. 'There was nothing he could say. What could he possibly say that could equal the sacrifice that those men had made?' DeRuntz said. Lincoln flipped the script, in that he made the speech about how the people present, and in the nation, needed to dedicate themselves to finishing the war. U.S. General John Logan in 1868 was the one who decreed that there would be Decoration Day – which became Memorial Day – to honor the war dead. 'We meet here still to this day, on this day to remember the sacrifice made for those who have given their lives in defense of our nation,' DeRuntz said. DeRuntz then described the cemetery in Normandy, France, where thousands of American soldiers lost their lives during the D-Day invasion that turned the tide in the European Theater of World War II. Then, DeRuntz painted a word picture of the scene at Arlington Cemetery, where he told of how the honor guard is constantly on duty at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The president of the United States on occasion has advised the honor guard during hurricanes and blizzards, the Unknown Soldier honor guard duty could be suspended. 'On each and every occasion, they (the honor guard) respond, with all due respect Mr. President, we will not stand down,' DeRuntz said. 'How we choose to honor those who have given their last full measure of devotion, in devotion to our nation, it matters.'
