While many people were enjoying the unofficial start of the summer season and others were attending baseball and softball games, there were others who took time out from their Memorial Day to remember those who made the supreme sacrifice. McPherson area veterans held services at four area cemeteries Monday, including a service at McPherson Cemetery
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2715 Commander Bobby Cox shared the poem “On Flanders Fields,” which the buddy poppy tradition of today originates from. Cox said in his remarks freedom is always under challenge, and that freedom is never free. “Those who live in freedom do so only because of those who died for that freedom.” Cox said adding with that comes the obligation to observe Memorial Day with all its meaning.
A part of this service was the riderless horse ritual. Owned and led by Megan Schultz, this tradition dates back to Genghis Khan, and in the United States has been used in funerals going back to President George Washington. As a military ritual, this is an honor for military officers holding the rank of colonel or above. In recent years, this has also been used to honor law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty.
The reversed boosts in the saddle of this horse were those of Fred E. Ellis, who died in service in World War I and whom VFW Post 2715 is named in honor of.
The ceremony included the laying of wreaths by representatives of the VFW, Harry B. Dorst Post 24 of the American legion and the affiliated organizations of each, along with the McPherson Fire and Police Departments, McPherson County Sheriff’s Office and McPherson EMS.
Following this wreath ceremony, members of the audience were invited to lay Buddy Poppies aside the wreaths. Some of those who did so remembered service members went to war and never came home, others remembered soldiers, sailors and Marines who did come hone, and one honored those whose faced challenges when they returned.
The service included the ceremonial folding of the American Flag which was presented to McPherson Mayor Jim Loving, the playing of “Amazing Grace” by four local bagpipers, a 21 gun rifle salute, and the playing of Taps to end the service.
Ceremonies were also held at Crestwood Memorial Park north of McPherson, at New Gottland Lutheran Church, and Empire Cemetery near Galva.
(All photos by Lucky Kidd, Ad Astra News)
