Waitsburg Honors Vets

WAITSURG – This year's annual American Legion Memorial Day Service at the Waitsburg Cemetery included the addition of four names to the memorial wall and a muster for two high school students, Caitlyn Jones and Trey Potts, who have enlisted with the military.

Legion Commander Ron Standring and Auxiliary President Rose Engelbrite opened the ceremony, which began with the flag-lowering by Wilson Hollow Wranglers 4-H group members Jared, Drew, and Amy Farley.

Waitsburg City Council Student Representative Stuart Walsh welcomed the community, Russ Knopp gave the invocation, and Waitsburg Quartet members Jack McCaw and Chuck Reeves sang "The Star Spangled Banner."

American Legion Auxiliary Essay Winners, Loren Negron (grade 9), Jaidyn Brown (grade 12), and Caitlyn Jones (grade 12), read essays on this year's theme "How Do We Keep Lincoln's Promise to our Veterans and their Families?" Brown's essay, which touched on the importance of improved benefits for veterans, won at the state competition level. (See essay below.)

The families of Robert Hulce and Loren "Bud" Love were thanked for donations of memorial flags that will be flown at the wall.

The names of four World War II veterans were added to the wall this year including: Hugh F. Gruver, Jim E. Hansen, Wilson H. Poolman, and Sylvan T. Severtsen.

McCaw and Reeves called roll call for the different branches of the military and were then joined by Makenna Barron to lead the audience in singing "God Bless America."

American Legion Auxiliary Junior Members Bailey Standring and Kathleen Kuykendall placed the Memorial Wreath and lit the Eternal Flame and Addie Johnson and Makenna Barron sang "Amazing Grace."

Standring called all the veterans forward and offered words of advice in a muster for WHS seniors Jones and Potts. The new enlistees were presented with a Leatherman from the Legion and pocket flags from the Auxiliary.

Jones is the daughter of Collette Jones of Waitsburg and has been very active in a variety of activities while in high school. She played volleyball for four years and has been ASB and FFA secretary. She is a member of FFA and the LEOs Club. Jones was joined by her recruiter and will join the United States Air Force.

Potts is the son of Jay and Angie Potts of Prescott. He played soccer for three years and played basketball and baseball for four years each. He was football videographer his senior year. As a junior, Potts attended the Kiwanis Law Enforcement Camp and he fought fires for the Clearwater-Potlatch Timber Protective Association during his junior summer. Potts has enlisted with the United States Army.

The ceremony closed with a benediction by Russ Knopp, a gun salute by Dayton American Legion Post #42, taps played by Wyatt Bohlman, and a Patriot's Salute to Our Fallen Heroes by Bojac Farms. A potato bar, hosted by the Legion Auxiliary was held at the elementary school following the service.