 Manes
began with a reference to Gen.
George C. Patton, who once said: "It
is foolish and wrong to mourn the
men who died. Rather, we should
thank God that such men lived."
Manes went on to thank all those who
have served our country in various
military and military-related
capacities: American Legion and
Veterans of Foreign Affairs Women's
Auxiliaries, Sons of American Legion
fathers, mothers, grandfathers and
grand-mothers, firefighters, police,
emergency services personnel, and
all those who are or have been
engaged is some direct military or
military support efforts and/or
community volunteer efforts, whether
at home or abroad.
He proudly recounted remembrances
of participating in Memorial Day
marches down to Mount Pulaski
Cemetery for services in his youth.
He excitedly explained how thankful
he was to be asked to speak for the
observances Monday and that he is so
very grateful for being able to
serve his country for 19 years thus
far.
He has been ever mindful of a
former Mount Pulaskian, Lt. Col.
Steve Holmes, who had retired but
was asked to return to service in
the first Iraqi war, to which he
could have said "no" but instead
answered the call to arms.
Manes has served all over the
world, in Korea, Afghanistan and
lately in Poland as part of an
Operations Readiness team to help
the Polish military in their support
of coalition forces in Afghanistan.
He gave special recognition to the
fine Polish military, who represent
a country that is so thankful for
American aid in all wars and
military conflicts -- for the
American spirit of democracy and
freedom now and in the past.
He gave a touching account of a
Polish teenager of 17 who escaped
the jaws of the Nazi encroachment by
way of a small sailboat and
eventually immigrated to America,
settling in the Polish-named town of
Mount Pulaski. Anthony "Tony"
Skielnik went on to learn English,
became educated in mechanical
engineering, worked and instructed
in mechanics for many years, and
made several inventions along the
way in his adopted country.
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top of second column]
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Manes concluded with his favorite
Bible passage: "There is no greater
love than to lay down one's life for
one's friends." -- John 15:13
Nearly 300 of all ages attended
all three services. American
Legion Post 447 Commander, Bob
McCue, introduced recently
re-elected Mayor Jim Fuhrer, Mt.
Pulaski American Legion
Auxiliary Unit Officer Phyliss
Becue (scholarship chairperson)
and Pastor Christopher Decker,
Mt. Pulaski Zion Lutheran
Church, who gave both the
Invocation and Benediction at
each site. Commander McCue and
newly elected Commander Ken
Buckles barked out orders to the
combined Mt. Pulaski American
Legion Ryman-Fuiten Post 447,
the Mt. Pulaski VFW Scroggin-Gee
Post 777 and Mt. Pulaski
American Legion SAL Squadron 447
firing squad in their 3-rounds
“Salute to our Fallen Comrades”
outside the Legion Hall and in
the Steenbergen Cemetery. Taps
was played by long-time bugler
and former Mt. Pulaski Post 447
Commander, Alan Roos, of
Chestnut. At the Mt. Pulaski
Vonderlieth Living Center, 19
veterans were grateful for our
appearance and short service
there, as we were so ever
grateful for their services to
our country. The great room
there was filled to capacity by
wives and relatives of the
veterans, and by other patients
who had had husbands, sons,
daughters, brothers, sisters
and/or loved ones in the service
of our country. Each member of
the Mt. Pulaski Veteran units,
including members of Mt. Pulaski
American Legion SAL Squadron
447, shook hands with each
veteran and thanked each for
their service to our country.
Pastor Decker gave a short talk
and provided a Benedictory
prayer accompanied with a
blessing.
[Text from file
received from Phil Bertoni:
photos by Alan Schaal]
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