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An honor they
have earned and deserve
By Bob Robinson
“Memorial Day is a good time to reflect back on those who have
served to protect this country,” said Doug Black, a member of the
American Legion Honor Guard. “It looked a lot different in the 50’s and
60’s. Vietnam got trashed, but I think that’s much of the reason why
our service is looked upon with renewed respect today.”
It’s Memorial Day, May 27, and members of the American Legion Honor
Guard, VFW Auxiliary and more were gathering to honor the nation’s and
Darke County’s veterans… many of them adding another year to decades of
service.
Sam Hoeflich has been the Chaplain for both the American Legion and
Veterans of Foreign Wars posts for years. He couldn’t remember the
first time he participated in a Memorial Day ceremony. It was too long
ago.
“I’m the oldest guy here,” the World War II veteran said. “Ninety years
old. I served in the 10th Mountain Division of the 605 Field Artillery
Battalion. We had 487 mules.”
He grinned.
“That was before the helicopters,” he added.
Hoeflich said Memorial Day calls to mind the guys he served with, the
ones lost.
“We were all good friends,” he said. “Close friends. But that’s war.”
Don Dietrich, USMC, served in Vietnam from 1966 to 1968.
“I think of the people who died before me and sacrificed themselves for
our freedoms… then I think that to many people this is just another
holiday,” he said.
Dietrich added that sometimes he will get up thinking “I gotta do this
parade.”
“Then I’m ashamed,” he said. “I think of the three hours I’m giving and
the ones who sacrificed their lives.”
Dietrich’s granddaughter, Kali, said she thought Memorial Day is a day
when people remember who died in the war, because they fought for our
country.
“They fought to keep us free to do what we want. If I don’t want to get
up and do work all the time, I don’t have to,” she said. “I get to do
what I want when I get big.”
Greenville High School Wavettes were quick to point out that veterans
“gave us our freedom.” They said it was a time to remember the loved
ones lost… to remember the soldiers who were killed or got wounded.
“I believe they were thinking about us,” one of them said. “The future
generations.”
Darke County Commissioner Diane Delaplane said she was proud Darke
County remembered the sacrifices of its veterans, adding that her
husband, Donald, was one of them.
“This is a time when we should remember and be thankful to those who
have served for our freedom, and continue to serve.”
She added this support makes “all of us” better citizens.
The annual Greenville parade lined up in front of the Greenville Public
Library. At 1 p.m. it started, then stopped in front of the courthouse.
A wreath was placed in front of the marker honoring all veterans. The
parade continued to the Martha Benkert Bridge on North Broadway. Again
it stopped and a brief service was performed, including a 21-gun salute
and tossing the traditional bouquet honoring Navy veterans.
The Memorial Parade proceeded to the Greenville Union Cemetery in front
of the Mausoleum.
NJROTC student Scott Denman read the Gettysburg Address, delivered more
than 150 years ago by President Abraham Lincoln.
He later said Memorial Day was about remembering those who served.
“It’s about remembering our fallen heroes,” he said. “Not cookouts and
burgers. Remembering those who died for us.”
The ceremony continued with the placing of the wreaths, a 21-gun salute
and the Greenville High School band playing the Star Spangled Banner
following the traditional Taps.
One young woman showed an intenseness not seen in most of those
attending.
Her name was Bethany Wentworth. Her mother, Diane Wentworth, who had
been standing behind her, said she lost her Dad, Bethany’s grandfather,
in 2011. With them was Colleen Harris Hiller, who said her son, Kyle
Harris, was currently serving in Afghanistan.
Prior to the ceremony, Joyce Dotson and her twin daughters Brianna and
Autumn, were putting flowers on the grave of a relative.
“We have uncles, grandparents… many who have served. This is their
great aunt,” she said, nodding toward her children. “When we are
finished here, we have three more in the Mausoleum.”
The speaker at the Memorial Ceremony, Leon Johnson, a Vietnam veteran
who served in the U. S. Army from 1967-1969, asked those who were
serving, had served or who had a family member serving raise their
hands. As hands went up, he said “thank you for your service.”
Johnson noted that those who were left behind bear the sorrow of loss.
“A nation that does not honor its veterans is a nation without a
conscience,” he said. “Greenville has shown that it has a great
conscience.”
Johnson added that Memorial Day was an “opportunity to rededicate
ourselves to those who serve us.
“It is an honor they have earned and deserve.”
Published courtesy
of The Early Bird
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