Memorial
Day in Mount Pulaski:
Colonel William Lee Wheeler of the
Army National Guard focus on the
sacrifice of soldiers and their
families
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[May 30, 2017]
MOUNT
PULASKI - On Monday, May 29 the
Mount Pulaski area held Memorial Day
services at Mount Pulaski Cemetery
and Steenbergen Cemetery to honor
the memories of those who sacrificed
their lives for our country.
Reverend Jonathan Buescher started
both ceremonies with an invocation
honoring those who have given their
lives for the cause of freedom and
those who continue to sacrifice,
including the military families who
support those in the service.
Master of Ceremonies Bob McCue said
Memorial Day began as a day to
decorate the graves of Civil War
soldiers killed in action and now we
salute all veterans who have given
their lives. He said we should
salute all heroes living and dead.
Mount Pulaski Mayor Jim Cole
welcomed everyone to the service at
Mount Pulaski Cemetery asking for a
moment of silence for veterans who
have lost their lives.
The Mount Pulaski High School Band
led by David Helm then played the
National Anthem to mark the
occasion.
Children were called up to place
flowers, to honor the sacrifices at
the memorial in Mount Pulaski
Cemetery. Several local
organizations participated in the
Laying of Wreaths Ceremony including
Brownies and Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts
and Boy Scouts, Firefighters,
members of the American Legion and
more. Each group presented wreaths
for those who lost their lives in
combat.
A member of the Sons
of the Legion presented certificates
to four local students who will be
going to a Boys' State Conference
where they will learn about our
government. These students included
Jacob Mileham, Sebastian Manor,
Dawson Hagan and Dixon Aylesworth.
Eli Olson was this years'
scholarship winner.
As they have done for several years,
students at Mount Pulaski Grade
School and High School competed in a
Memorial Day essay contest sponsored
by the Sons of the Legion. Their
essays share what Memorial Day means
to them and winners receive a
scholarship.
This year's winners
were junior high student Colin Tyson
and high school
student Faith Dewer, who both read
their essays.
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Tyson's essay talked
about his great grandfathers who
fought in World War II and the
Korean War, with his paternal great
grandfather being tortured and
starved after his capture as a
prisoner of war. Tyson said Memorial
Day should not be forgotten and
"will never be in the hearts of our
veterans and the families that have
lost a loved one or have one
deployed right now fighting for your
freedom." He honored those people.
Tyson said Memorial
Day is a day to remember what it
means to be a hero and a day to
remember the heroes who gave
everything.
Dewer's essay said Memorial Day is
often under celebrated. She said it
is "a sacred holiday of remembrance
of all the people who have lost
their lives for us to have something
to celebrate. It is a mourning
family that lost their beloved
soldier and most of all, it is a
country that stands unified in the
loss of our soldiers and takes pride
in the battles that placed us where
we are today."
Dewer said that over 1 million
soldiers have died during wartime
and she finds their bravery
humbling. She said parents share
their children's lives to protect us
and the families who have lost loved
ones are just as important as those
who sacrificed their lives. She
called each one of the million who
have died in battle "a hero in my
book" as they help preserve freedom
and liberty.
McCue then introduced keynote
speaker Colonel William Lee Wheeler
of the Army National Guard. Wheeler
serves as Director of Joint
Operation for the Illinois Air
National Guard. He has been in the
armed service 41 years and done six
combat tours serving in Bosnia,
Afghanistan, and Iraq.
Wheeler said on
Memorial Day, Americans "have paused
to reflect on the sacrifices paid on
battlefields around the world from
Bunker Hill to Baghdad." He said we
need to "honor the lives of those
who fought by remembering the
individuals."
Wheeler said we need to remember the
thousands of soldiers from Illinois
who sacrificed their lives in the
various wars. He said, "All that we
gather to remember have completed
their last mission, but at the same
time, have left us with a mission.
Our mission is to remember them
[and] to ensure their memory is
passed down to future generations.
This is the task we must take
without reservation."
Wheeler closed by saying, "I wish to
give thanks to our fallen heroes.
May we never forget their sacrifice
for this great nation."
After the band played a medley of
patriotic tunes that helped
commemorate the various branches of
service and Buescher gave a
benediction, the Mount Pulaski
American Legion Post 447 and Mount
Pulaski SAL Squadron 447 provided a
rifle salute followed by the playing
of Taps.
At the Steenbergen Cemetery, 164
flags that honor veterans from
various wars are displayed during
the holiday. A similar service was
held at the chapel (9188) there with
Wheeler also reminding everyone of
the sacrifices families make.
At each service, many gathered to
help commemorate those who have
served and given their lives for
this country.
[Angela Reiners]
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