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Washington Evening Journal
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‘Those who gave the ultimate sacrifice’
More than 200 fill Mt. Pleasant High gym to pay tribute on Memorial Day
More than 200 people filled the Mt. Pleasant Community High School gym Monday for a 50-minute Memorial Day service.
“We come today to remember those who have fallen, those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect freedom,” said First Presbyterian Church Pastor Trey Hager, a former Marine.
Master of ceremonies Dean King noted that there were no World War II veterans in the audience, perhaps the first Memorial Day service in Mt. Pleasant without a veteran from that war. King noted that while some veterans of the war are still alive, the youngest would now be 94 years old.
The Mt. Pleasant High marching band filled a section of the bleachers. Before the ceremony, the band played patriotic music. When the ceremony started, the band filled the gym with the sounds of the “Star-Spangled Banner.”
Nine-year-old Ruby Syfert read the Gettysburg Address while a combined elementary and high school choir hummed the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” in the background.
DeWayne Fraizer, provost of Iowa Wesleyan University and the featured speaker at the service, told the story of a young man who signed up to fight in World War II and went on to fight in the Korean War. He received a Purple Heart and three oak leaf clusters, meaning he was wounded four times “to protect the country he loved so much.”
“Freedom is not free,” he said, noting how many people have died fighting in wars to defend that freedom.
He ended his speech with the words of the Billy Ray Cyrus song, “Some Gave All.”
The indoor service concluded with the reading of the names of veterans who died in the past year, names that will be engraved on the veterans memorial, names now totaling 1,444. Those added this year are: Donald D. Brown, Marine Corps; Ted D. Stoner, Army; Edward R. Hayes, Army; Charles Curtis Jr., Army; Jerry Eugene Wells, Navy; Myron Roy McGuire, Navy; Dennis E. Ensminger, Army; Hunter Lloyd Blackmon, Army; Harold L. Conard, Army; Lewis M. Fenton, Air Force; O. Frederick Fenton, Marine Corps; Gregory D. Balchunas, Army.
As each name was read, family members present stood in silent tribute, some wiping away tears.
The audience filed outside and a rifle guard fired a three-shot volley followed by two Mt. Pleasant High trumpeters playing “Taps.”
The color guard carries in the flags at Memorial Day services at Mt. Pleasant High School Monday. (Jim Johnson/The Union)
Nine-year-old Ruby Syfert reads the Gettysburg Address while a combined elementary and high school choir hums the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" in the background. (Jim Johnson/The Union)
Coleman Mowery leads the drum line for the Mt. Pleasant High School marching band at the Memorial Day services Monday. (Jim Johnson/The Union)
Dean King was master of cermonies for the Mt. Pleasant Memorial Day service on Monday. (Jim Johnson/The Union)
Veterans listen to the speeches at the Mt. Pleasant Memorial Day services on Monday at the high school gym. (Jim Johnson/The Union)
First Presbyterian Pastor and former Marine delivered the invocation and benediction at the Mt. Pleasant Memorial Day services Monday. (Jim Johnson/The Union)
