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Stelvideo Christian
Church holds Memorial Day Service
Memorial Day 2011
By Christy Riley
Teen Scribe
“…It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the
unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly
advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task
remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased
devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of
devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have
died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of
freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the
people, shall not perish from the earth.” (Abraham Lincoln’s speech The
Gettysburg Address.)
The Memorial Day Service at Stelvideo Christian Church in Greenville
began at 1 p.m. Sunday. Jacquil Mears gave President Abraham Lincoln’s
Gettysburg Address. A welcome and moving prayer to greet all in
attendance was given by Dick McMiller, after which, the Pledge of
Allegiance was done by a boy who was about five.
Mears followed the opening with the Gettysburg Address. While she was
reading it, I cried. The speech was given to commemorate all the men
and women who died giving the ultimate sacrifice so we all could be
free. May we never forget their sacrifice.
Dick McMiller introduced the guest speaker, William Cooper, a veteran
Lt. Col. Retired. Cooper currently teaches at Edison Community College.
Cooper’s speech was about the word duty and how it is our duty as
Americans to never forget those who serve/served us by going to war to
protect freedom and to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.
He said how we are here to honor veterans who freely gave their lives.
The word memorial is defined as “a series of things or events meant to
honor and preserve the memory of those fallen heroes”.
Robert E. Lee in response to the word duty said, “…it is the blindest
word in the English language…never do less…” If we perform our duties
well, then we do honor in memory and preservation of those fallen
veterans who gave their lives for us. The business of a soldier is to
fight and confront the enemy and destroy the enemy.
Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “We need to make this an America worth
fighting and dying for.”
Special music by the Stelvideo Christian Church Band was played next.
All the theme songs of every branch of service were played. During each
song, those veterans in that branch were asked to stand up, so that
everyone present could clap for them and give them the honor due them.
The band ended with the song You’re a Grand Old Flag.
Pat Rodeffer sang the song Up There Somewhere. Her song was about
commemorating those who had died to ensure freedom for all who live in
America. It is also about how all of those veterans now look down upon
us, the living, praying that we do not ever forget their ultimate
sacrifice paid in blood.
Pastor Vernon Rodeffer gave the closing prayer. Following the service,
everyone went to the Stelvideo Cemetery where further honor of the
veterans was given.
At the Stelvideo Cemetery, the Color Guard, American Legion Post 140,
gave a 21-gun salute. Also a brief speech was given as all present
remembered all veterans those here and those gone. About 66 people
attended the ceremony.
Christy shares her thoughts on Memorial Day with us, plus more photos:
Read it here at Teen Scribes.
Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address Here
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