Paying tribute to those who gave their all

The 150th observance of Memorial Day saw a crowd estimated in excess of 2,000 pay their respects in a ceremony at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery near Medical Lake last Monday.

On a picturesque spring morning, those in attendance heard messages from a variety of dignitaries. Before and after they paid their respects to many of the 5,000 people that have found their final resting place at the facility that opened eight years ago.

The Lilac City Community Band played a variety of music, including traditional marches as well as the various songs of each service branch that had many in the crowd clapping along. Stephen Brown played a bagpipes solo just prior to the opening of the ceremony and Taps, performed by Tech. Sgt. (Ret) Dave Halvorson, closed the program.

"We are here to honor the brave men and women who answered our nation's call, many of whom gave their last full measure in defense of our great nation, all true American heroes," cemetery director Rudy Lopez said in opening remarks.

Lopez's time at the microphone was interrupted for a short while with a fly-over from World War II-era Stearman Biplanes, which participate in the event each year. Their performance included a "missing man" formation with a lone aircraft peeling off of the formation trailing white smoke.

Chaplain John Bliss asked the audience to be sure to remember in their prayers those who are still serving to "Return alive and well," and urged more thoughts for those who came home with physical and mental challenges. "May we help them to help themselves to a better way of life," he said.

Gary Condra, deputy director, Washington Department of Veterans Affairs spoke on behalf of over 600,000 veterans in the state. He reminded that those who served - and some who died - did so not "To seek personal gain or a path to fame."

He also asked them to extend gratitude to a group no one willingly joins, the Gold Star Families who have had a serviceman or woman lose their lives for their country. "Every day they can hear the voice of those they lost," Condra said.

Col. Scott Heathman, the new commander of 92nd Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base, gave a brief history lesson.

"It wasn't until after the Civil War that the nation officially began to recognize the sacrifices of the fallen," he said.

Originally it was called Decoration Day, first observed May 30, 1868 and honored those who died in the Civil War. Following World War I, the name was changed to Memorial Day.

Heathman borrowed a piece of a previous Memorial Day speech from President George W. Bush in 2005 who said, "Looking across this field we can see the scale of heroism and sacrifice. All those who are buried here understood their duty. All stood to protect America. All carried with them the memories of a family they hoped to keep safe by their sacrifice."

Washington's 5th District Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers added another piece of the history in her remarks to illustrate the incredible sacrifices members of the armed services often make. Particularly those who do not make it home.

Rodgers told the tale of four chaplains who were aboard an American troop ship in the North Atlantic that was torpedoed by a German U-Boat.

The Catholic priest, two Protestant ministers and a Jewish Rabbi provided aid and comfort to the dying and then their lifejackets to those who had none. As the ship sunk they continued to pray for those around them until they, too, were lost to the sea.

Gary Roach, State Commander of the Washington American Legion, read names of the fallen and Matthew Jackson, American Legion District 8 Commander, rang the bell in memory of 42 individuals who passed and never formally received military honors. Ana Rief, received a flag in honor of her brother SSG James Wheeler, USMC as part of that tribute. 

Paul Delaney can be reached at [email protected].