Waitsburg Honors Vets at Memorial Service

WAITSBURG – Flags lined the fence and flapped briskly in the breeze, making a fitting presentation at Waitsburg's annual American Legion Memorial Day Service at the Waitsburg City Cemetery on Monday.

Legion Commander Ron Standring and Auxiliary President Rose Engelbrite opened the ceremony, which began with the flag-lowering by Boy Scouts from Troop 332. WHS seniors Mikala DeRuwe and Paige Wood sang the "Star Spangled Banner," and Pastor Jimmie Daves led the invocation. City council representative K.C. Kuykendall gave a welcoming speech.

This year's American Legion Auxiliary speech winner, on the topic "What Does Freedom Mean to My Family?" was Waitsburg Elementary School fourth grader Hendrix Groom. Groom presented her speech, which spoke of the opportunity Americans have to get a good education, eat good food and drink fresh water.

"America has an army, and they give us our freedom that we have. But it is never free; it always costs something. They fight to keep us safe, and a lot of people even die," said Groom.

Engelbrite paid tribute to the late Karen Mohney, who played a crucial role in building the memorial wall where Monday's ceremony took place. "She was a do-er, and she gave us the courage to take on the task of raising the money to get the wall built," Engelbrite said. "We did it ourselves, without any grant money. And we were recognized by the state auxiliary as an outstanding project."

Engelbrite explained that pavers have now been added to the back of the wall, and family members who are veterans and were born or raised in Waitsburg, but are not buried here, may now have their names added to the wall on those pavers. Formerly, only those buried in Waitsburg cemeteries could have their names added to the memorial wall.

Names of veterans added to the wall in 2015 include Spanish-American War veteran Charles V. Zuger* and World War I veterans Elmer Bateman and Richard E. Bateman. World War II veterans added include: Mollie Dobronich*, Bernard H. Donnelly, Laurence Fullerton, Lawrence Huwe*, Robert D. Huwe*, Chad D. Mock, Richard Otterson*, Marvin E. Powell and Ivan L. White. Korean veteran Jim Mays* and Vietnam vets Richard M. Buroker, Sidney Dobronich*, Vernon Hall*, Terry Hiatt, and Frederick J. Santos. (Names with asterisks are of Waitsburg individuals engraved on brick pavers but buried elsewhere.)

Engelbrite presented a gold star banner to Rhonda Bell, whose son, Kyle Darby recently enlisted in the army. Darby is also Engelbrite's grandson.

Jack McCaw, Kyle Terry and Chuck Reeves of the Waitsburg Quartet performed "Just a Little Talk with Jesus" before calling roll call for the different branches of service and leading the audience in singing "God Bless America."

Katherine Kuykendall and Leena Baker, both American Legion Auxiliary Junior Members, placed the Memorial Wreath and lit the Eternal Flame, and Addie Johnson and Makenna Barron sang a touching rendition of "Amazing Grace."

Following the benediction, Dayton American Legion Post #42 gave a gun salute and WHS freshman Chris Philbrook played "Taps." A potato bar, hosted by the Legion Auxiliary, was held at the elementary school following the service.