Memorial Day Remembrance
Members of the honor guard stand in formation during the Memorial Day observance as the community gathered to remember and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the United States. PHOTO | Lynn Bledsoe
Lynn Bledsoe
Gimlet Managing Editor
Memorial Day is not about cookouts and pool parties, but a day to remember those who are gone and the cost they paid. The Wand B Doyle DAV and Auxiliary Chapter 32 held a Memorial Day service in Brownsville.
Troop and Pack 597 presented the flag with grace.
Maurita Miller, DAVA Commander, Historian and Curator of the Veterans Hall of Honor and Memorial Wall, gave a presentation of the annual featured Veteran segment that recalls those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and/or those who served our country honorably.
This year’s featured veteran was a family affair. SFC Arnold Sanders and PFC Herbert Hoover Sanders both served in the US Army and fought in WWII and the Korean War. Arnold was awarded 4 Purple Hearts, 2 in WWII and 2 in Korea, plus the Silver Star Medal for valor in WWII. Hoover was a POW for 3 years in North Korea.
Maurita Miller read a letter written by Jill Sanders about her dad and five uncles. Sanders said, “These men changed the world.” Sanders went on to say that one uncle was a member of the nuclear test in Nevada, one taught King Hussein of Jordan to drive a tank, and one was a reconnaissance scout in Germany during WWII; they had accomplished many things. They saved the world. Other brothers from the family who served were MP Calvin Sanders- US Army, WWII, SFC Ova Sanders- Army Paratrooper, WWII, MSGT Paul Sanders- US Army WWII and Korea and PSC Coy Sanders- US Army, Korea and Vietnam.
Vollies being fired. PHOTO | Lynn Bledsoe
Guest speaker State Rep. Michael Meredith quoted General George Washington, “The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this army.” Meredith said “We are those untold millions.”
Judge JB Hines spoke about how as a young boy he was a Scout and attended many Memorial Day services, and it taught him not only the importance of remembrance but also of the sacrifices others made for our nation.
Judge Executive Scott Lindsey sang the Star-Spangled Banner, and Denise Browning Coomes sang God Bless the USA and Traveling Soldier. Kevin Poynter played Amazing Grace on the bagpipes. Scouts of America Pack 597 placed the wreath donated by Madison’s Flowers at the Veterans Wall.
The raising of the flag was done by Unit 32 of the DAV, and VFW 6937 Honor Guard fired the 21-gun salute. Taps was played by Bennie Durbin.
