Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley
Four members of the Waitsburg Corral Wranglers helped raise the flag at the Waitsburg Memorial Day ceremony at the city cemetery.
Robert Walsh recites the essay he wrote on how he shows his patriotism on Monday at the city cemetery in Waitsburg.
Andrea Wysock, SSG, was one of the speakers at this year's Memorial Day ceremony in Waitsburg.
Andrea Wysock, SSG, and Marco Cerda, PFC, were honored as speakers at Monday's event.
WAITSBURG - For the first time in the history of Waitsburg's Memorial Day ceremony, those who currently serve their country received special attention along with veterans past and present.
Seventeen local families received a Blue Star Service Banner from the American Legion Auxiliary Chapter 35, a recognition the service men and women usually receive at a muster but not on Memorial Day.
The Blue Star Service Banners were created in 1917 and were a common sight during World Wars I and II. Resurrected in 2001, the banner is displayed to show that a family member is currently serving in the military.
"We decided to do it as part of the program because there were several (families) who had not been recognized," Auxiliary President Rose Engelbrite said.
Waitsburg families received the banners for sons, daughters and husbands currently serving, including Zac Alexenko, Andrew Baumgarten, Jeremy Guay, Frank Gould, Trevor Johnson, Brandon Kaehler, Brandon Miller, Chris Rosenberger, Kevin Raver, Michael Vance, Wyatt Withers, Angela Hopkins, Dakota Hopkins, Derek Henderson, Troy Henderson, Amy Perkins, Michael Perkins and Nick Zaharevich.
Other Waitsburg residents and relatives in the Armed Forces include members of the Baker family, Morgan Baker, Anthony Henry and Matthew Cruesdale, and Aryn Davis, a granddaughter of Glen Davis.
The names of seven veterans were added to the Memorial Wall, including World War II servicemen Harold Drake, Richard Harper, Darrell Mock and James Wood, and Vietnam War veterans James Weeks, Neil Rhodelle Witt and Ronald Wolfe. Guest speakers Staff Sergeant Andrea Wysock and Private First Class Marco Cerda eloquently captured the mood of the more than 150 attendees during the sunny cemetery ceremony Monday morning.
"How can I put into words the enormity of what today means for us as service members remembering our friends who have fallen in war, and for you, as individuals supporting service members and who are steadfast in your commitment to our great nation," Wysock said. "Scripture reminds us that 'greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.'"
Wysock noted the importance of attending the solemn occasion on a holiday that originated during the Civil War when grieving survivors of fallen confederate soldiers began to clean the graves of nearby union soldiers' graves.
"This story brings into focus the benevolence of humankind during times of war," she said. "It shows the ability to put aside all differences and instead, pay respect to the sacrifice of those who believed so fully in what they fought for they gave their lives to it."
She continued; "You are doing an important thing by being here today. You are not forgetting the past sacrifices of our soldiers, both present and past. You are honoring their memory, paying tribute to their service and teaching a new generation about patriotism and allegiance."
Among members of that new generation were Waitsburg Corral Wranglers 4-H members Jared, Drew and Amy Farley who raised the flag and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Dalton Larue played the Star Spangled Banner and Taps on trumpet. Chance Arnn, Cade Branson and Robert Walsh, winners of this year's Auxiliary essay contest, read from their work.
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