“All gave some. Some gave all.”
On Monday, May 27, citizens in Lisbon and Mount Vernon took time to honor those soldiers who had given their lives in defense of the country with services held at the cemeteries in their respective towns.
Howard Hahn American Legion post commander Mike Woods made a community announcement at the top of the ceremony that Mount Vernon’s Fred Lehman had passed quietly with family and friends around him at home that Memorial Day. (A more detailed story on Fred Lehman will be in the June 6 issue of the Sun).
“Fred was one of the members of the legion who was instrumental in keeping this service going in many years,” Woods said, as he asked for a moment of silence.
Woods also thanked the community members who marched with the Boy Scouts and the American Legion to the cemetery this year in an effort to remember those who have died by suicide and raise attention to the growing trend in military veterans.
Catherine Quehl-Engel gave the invocation to the service, calling on a moment of putting away bickering and conflicts to give honor to those who protect the nation’s freedoms with their sacrifice.
Jolene Woods read a recitation of “In Flanders Fields.”
Mayor Tom Wieseler gave brief remarks at the ceremony as well.
“It is appropriate that on this beautiful Memorial Day, we pay respect to those who have sacrificed for us,” Wieseler said.
Wieseler also gave blessings to the Lehman family, especially Fred and Marianne who were now united once more.
Poet laureate Amelia Kibbie read her new original poem at this year’s ceremony. (A copy of that poem will be reprinted in the June 6 edition of the Sun newspaper as well).
Members of the Mount Vernon Choir performed the Star Spangled Banner, and senior Luke Stephens recited the Gettysburg Address.
Lisbon
The Lisbon Marching band led the parade right behind Cyclops American Legion Post, marching from downtown Lisbon to Lisbon cemetery Monday morning.
Musical selections were played at the Lisbon Memorial in front of the cemetery, and the star spangled banner played as local Cub Scouts raised the flag in the cemetery for the morning.
An original poem was read.
Guest speaker for Lisbon was superintendent Autumn Pino, who asked those gathered to think about the “why they were here” at the Memorial Day ceremony.
“We are all in attendance because of different reasons and experiences,” Pino said. “Despite those differences, I encourage us all to keep that ‘why’ in mind as we gather here today.”
Pino said many were here to honor those who had given the ultimate sacrifice to protect the freedoms we hold dear in this country.
She said she was also thankful to be superintendent of a community where Memorial Day and Veterans Day and these traditions are important, and their importance is imparted onto future generations of students.
She encouraged those in attendance to live in a way that reflected hope and optimism for the sacrifices others have made, and work with others to build back a nation that those who gave their lives would be proud of.
She also encouraged people to express gratitude to those who they know who gave their lives for their country and the freedoms we hold dear, as well as the “why” that many were there to honor this Memorial Day service.
Pino’s speech was preceded with the fifth graders who won the “What the Flag Means to Me” essay contest at Lisbon this past winter reciting their essays one more time.