Memorial Day Events to Honor those Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice

By: Sean Dieterich, The Independent 

PHOTO CREDIT 
Alec Pearce - The Independent
Rock star and gun enthusiast Ted Nugent pays homage and respect to disabled veterans at the NRA Show in Phoenix on Sunday. "How dare an American citizen not use the rights put forth by soldiers dying." said Nugent, as he encouraged those present to honor the "fallen".

While many people will celebrate the Memorial Day holiday in different ways, the point is the same: to remember those who gave the ultimate price in defense of their nation.

According to www.wikipedia.org, the holiday was originally called Decoration Day and billed as a way to honor Union soldiers who died during the Civil War, celebrated near the day the war ended and the country was reunified. After the World War I, the holiday was expanded to include any casualty of any American war or military action.

     According to the Veterans of Foreign Wars White Mountain Post 9907, the name was changed from Decoration Day to Memorial Day in 1967. In 1968, Congress changed the day of observance to the last Monday in May.

     This coming Monday is the last Monday in May. And on Monday, as well as the weekend leading up to it, communities in the White Mountains will hold ceremonies to celebrate Memorial Day.

     In Show Low, VFW Post 9907, American Legion Post 76 and Disabled American Veterans Chapter 9 will hold a ceremony at 10 a.m. at the Show Low Cemetery, with assistance from Black's Mortuary. Terry Hill of VFW Post 9907 said the ceremony will be highlighted with speeches from post commanders and guest speakers before the memorial service.

     VFW Post 2364 in Pinetop-Lakeside and American Legion Post 60 in Whiteriver also stand to be very busy this Memorial Day. The two organizations are conducting five different Memorial Day services, complete with speeches, a 21-gun salute and Taps. John Beeler, quartermaster and adjutant of VFW Post 2364, said they will start in Whiteriver at 8:30 a.m. at the American Legion/Veteran's building at 312 N. Chief Ave. At 10 a.m., they will travel to Cibecue for a ceremony at Jackrabbit Flat, a flat area with three flagpoles.

     At 1 p.m., Beeler said they will hold a ceremony at Solterra, 5408 W. White Mountain Blvd. in Wagon Wheel. After that ceremony, they will travel to the Pinetop-Lakeside Veterans Memorial behind Town Hall on 1360 N. Niels Hansen Lane for a 1:30 p.m. service. Their last service of the day takes place at 2:30 p.m. at Infinia, 2401 E. Hunt St. in Show Low.

     The Town of Taylor will hold their Memorial Day service not on Monday, but on Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Veteran's Monument at the intersection of Center and Main Street. At the ceremony, the flag will be retired and presented to a Taylor veteran, followed by a 21-gun salute and Taps. There will also be a reading of the names of Taylor residents who fought in wars. The speaker at the event will be veteran Van Shumway of Taylor.

     As part of Springerville-Eagar's Round Valley Round Up held Memorial Day weekend, a pancake breakfast and flag-raising will take place at Ramsey Park in Eagar on Saturday. Also in Apache County, a Memorial Day parade will be held in Concho Monday. The parade will start at 10 a.m. at the elementary school and head north on state Route 61 and west on Commercial Drive, ending at Lions Park. A ceremony and flag-raising will be held at the northeast corner of the park. 

SOURCE: White Mountain Independent