Paying Respects to Heroes

“I am pleased that those of you here today recognize the importance of this day and the need to remember those who gave their lives for our nation. We are strong because of their sacrifices,” said Lt. Col. (ret.) John C. Tardy, guest speaker at the American Legion Post 198 Memorial Day Program in Middleton.
Tardy pointed out there are three days during the year on which our country recognizes its veterans. These are the May 21 “Armed Forces Day” when we recognize service members, November 11 “Veterans’ Day” when we recognize all of our veterans, and the last Monday in May is “Memorial Day”, when we pay our respects and remember those who gave their lives in military service.
Memorial Day began in Carbondale, Illinois in 1866 as a day to remember those who died in the Civil War. The official “birth place” for the day is Waterloo, New York. It became an official national holiday in 1971.
Posting of the Colors opened a moving ceremony led by the Post Commander, James Burchfield. Everyone joined in the singing of our National Anthem followed by recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. A wreath was placed in front of the wall. Gerald Nichols of the Marine Corps League in Corinth, Mississippi played taps.
Annie Pearl Orman, Vice President of the Ladies Auxiliary, read a roll call of Middleton residents who sacrificed their lives in service to their country. The city suffered nine casualties in World War II, four in Kores, four in Vietnam, and three in Iraq.
Col. Tardy pointed out that the United States has suffered almost 650,000 hostile deaths in 83 wars and assorted military actions over the past 241 years. Another 600,000 casualties are classified as “non-hostile deaths.
He expressed concern that many people consider the Memorial Day weekend as the beginning of summer and do not recognize the significance of the day. TV “man on the street” interviews reveal that many Americans do not even know what Memorial Day is. “Finally, with the all-volunteer force, emphasis on military service in our society has reduced the impact of military deaths in our society.”