Honoring memories
Lodians remember fallen heroes on Memorial Day
Since 1868, the U.S. has reserved the last Monday of May to remember the men and women of the country’s armed forces who died in battle and honor their memories. Originally called Decoration Day, the holiday now known as Memorial Day was originally observed on May 30 from 1868 until 1971, when the date was changed to the last Monday in May, in accordance with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968, in order to create a three-day weekend.
One of the most common ways of commemorating the holiday is by placing flowers on the graves of fallen servicemen and women. Politicians and religious leaders alike would address their communities in somber events, remembering those who gave their lives in battle and providing comfort to their families.
Observance of the national holiday continues to this day, with many of the major customs remaining largely unchanged, although a few new traditions have sprung up since the 1860s.
Remembering heroes
At a 9 a.m. service in Lodi Memorial Park & Cemetery, for example, winners of the San Joaquin County Youth Essay Contest read from their essays on the topic, “The True Meaning of Memorial Day.”
One Lodi High School junior, Robert Perrin, 17, made the point that people would do well to “remember the people who gave their lives in war — it’s not just about barbecues and having a day off.”
His sentiment was shared by many in attendance, whether they were military or civilians, active duty or retired, enlisted personnel or commissioned officers. During his invocation, Chad Donley, pastor for the Lodi Church of Christ and chaplain for the American Legion Post 22, thanked everybody who attended, especially when they “consider all the things you could be doing right now — cookouts, picnics, some of you might have even still been asleep.”
Instead, the guests chose to spend their Monday in the cemetery, remembering the men and women who gave their lives in defense of the U.S. and its ideals.
A former Army chaplain, Donley does not consider himself a hero, although he said that “I consider it a blessing to have been in a company of heroes.”
He read from a list of posthumous Medal of Honor recipients, but didn’t stop there.
“The men and women who gave their lives are undeniably heroes, ribbon or not,” Donley said, referring to the countless fallen soldiers who did not receive a medal for their actions.
Following Donley’s invocation, Post 22 master of ceremonies Ken Kramlich, who helped host the event along with the Lodi Funeral Home, announced the beginning of the wreath laying ceremony.
Pat Meunier of Post 22 and Ann Scholl of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 22, along with Margaret Finch and Army Sgt. Jared Ollenberger, laid floral wreaths around the Tomb of the Unknown, a symbolic gesture to all those who died in battle whose bodies were never recovered or identified.
Lee Medford and Barbara Kettner sang a medley of patriotic songs, followed by a 21 gun salute from Post 22’s Honor Guard.
Bob Gross played “Taps,” and the Post 22 Honor Guard folded the American Flag before placing it on the Tomb of the Unknown, concluding the traditional military funeral service.
Donley gave a closing prayer before the B Sharp School of Music’s violinists played “America The Beautiful,” followed by a dove release from Wings of Love, with a missing man formation flyover from the Stan Helme Team, also known as the Lodi Vine Flyers. Guests then adjourned to a free pancake breakfast.
An ongoing struggle
Retired Army Maj. Gen. Eldon P. Regua spoke at Cherokee Memorial Park’s 10:30 a.m. service, which featured 11,000 U.S. flags, following an invocation from Lodi First Baptist Church Pastor Glen Barnes.
Echoing the sentiment expressed in Perrin’s essay, Regua asked the audience to keep in mind that Memorial Day is about more than the first day of summer, going to the beach or picnics, reminding guests that American soldiers are still serving in Iraq and Afghanistan even as he spoke, asking them to “pause in remembrance of American Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen,” who have died since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
“The enemy is difficult to fight, but our armed forces are adapting...and helping host nations fight,” Regua said. “Let us not forget those who gave their lives so that we can enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Wreaths were presented by representatives from Post 22, Disabled American Veterans and several Gold Star Mothers of fallen soldiers, before the traditional 21 gun salute and playing of “Taps,” followed by closing remarks from Daniel J. Stanley of the Cherokee Memorial Park and Funeral Home.
Stanley asked the audience to donate towards care packages for servicemen and women stationed abroad.
The Stockton Portsmen Chorus sang patriotic songs as Wings of Love released doves yet again, with a missing man flyover concluding the ceremony. Afterwards, guests were invited to the Vineyard Chapel for a viewing of two videos, one featuring an interview with the late Medal of Honor recipient Richard Pittman, a marine from Stockton. The second video contained footage of his funeral, which was attended by Marines from across the country.
Heroes remember
The Lodi Elk’s Lodge #1900 hosted a free luncheon at noon in Woodbridge, attended by the USMC Combat Logistics Battalion 23’s Color Guard.
Consisting of Sgt. Dievon from Illinois, Sgt. Delreal from Texas, Staff Sgt. De Lasota from California and Staff Sgt. Tetrault from Lemoore, the team is stationed with their battalion in Lathrop. The team had just finished at the Cherokee Memorial Park, and were preparing to fulfill their duty once again.
This was their first Memorial Day together, with Dievon being the newest addition, although all four had participated in other services in the past.
Dievon described the duty as an honor.
“It’s the least we can do to represent for others who have served,” Dievon said.
All career Marines, the team has been together for 10 months, and none have any plans to leave the Marine Corps any time soon.
Following the luncheon, guests made their way to the Woodbridge Masonic Cemetery, where they were welcomed by members of the Elk’s Lodge and the Lodi Community Band, conducted by Art Holton.
William Clifford, the Lodge’s Exalted Ruler, acted as master of ceremonies, introducing guest speaker Sgt. Maj. Daniel DeGeorge, Sr., Marines.
DeGeorge, currently serving with the California Military Department, called it “an honor to represent those who lost their lives on the battlefield for freedom.”
This was DeGeorge’s second service this weekend, and he has been speaking at Memorial Day services for the past 17 years.
He gave special thanks to the families of servicemen and women present, calling them the “foundation” of the armed forces, before going on to speak about the Medal of Honor recipients, who “bravely and instinctively risked life and limb,” adding, “they will live on in our hearts forever.”
“As you leave and go about your day, keep the fallen in your minds, and their friends and family in your hearts,” DeGeorge said.
The wreath laying ceremony featured Meunier and Scholl of Post 22 once more, joined by Marlowe Benner and Bill Jones of Lodi Chapter 59 of Disabled American Veterans, Elk’s Lodge Leading Knight Sue Sandeen and the Elk’s Lodge’s own Jeff Lodi laying a wreath on behalf of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Carolyn Greeson, the Lodge’s chaplain, gave the closing benediction.
“Thank you all for coming out and honoring our fallen service members,” she said. “Thank you, and keep them in your hearts.”