THE COST OF FREEDOM

Memorial Day offers lesson on sacrifice

In the largest Memorial Day turnout in recent history in this area, more than 375 people gathered Monday to honor fellow Americans who died in military service to their country.

Green Valley American Legion Post No. 66 Commander Gary Nelson, master of ceremonies, set the tone for the solemn and moving event, which brought many men and women in the audience at Green Valley Mortuary and Cemetery in Sahuarita to tears.

Nelson urged the audience to always remember those who made “the ultimate sacrifice” and to affirm that departed veterans “did not die in vain.”

“Because of their bravery, we all are able to live in freedom,” Nelson said.

In his invocation, Chaplain Gary Kissinger made a similar exhortation: “May we all remember the awesome cost of the freedoms we all enjoy.”

Four contingents, one from the legion post, one from the U.S. Border Patrol Honor Guard, one from the Knights of Columbus Chapter 1918 Green Valley, and one from the GV Marine Corps League marched to the Massing of Colors, with Marvin Garaway commanding.

KGVY radio personality Joey Lessa invited the audience to join him in singing the national anthem, which many did, accompanied by the Bavarian Brass Band.

David Caballero, retired U.S. Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 3 of Tucson, stressed the importance of teaching “American history, civic ritual, and civic responsibility” to young people “so they never forget the sacrifices their parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and others made” so they can live their lives in a manner that will preserve our rights as Americans and allow young people “to grow up with a knowledge of their history and American traditions,” such as how their government works and what the Constitution means.

“We’ve got to teach history not based on what is fashionable, but on what is important. If we forget who we were, we forget who we are.”

Caballero quoted the late President Ronald Reagan in emphasizing that the U.S. does not do a good enough job in teaching our young people about our history and the sacrifices military veterans and their families made and continue to make during times of war and peace.

He said young people can glean that understanding not only in school, but also at the dinner table and from the father or mother down the street.

“We have to teach kids what’s good about our country. We are truly blessed because of the people who are inspired to serve others so we can wake up in the greatest country in the world,” Caballero said, to enthusiastic applause.

Retired Army Lt. Gen. John T. Myers recalled the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, noting that they brought renewed awareness “that there is evil in the world and that the purveyors of hate to will go any lengths to kill Americans. And, unlike many Americans, they’re not on a short timetable. Their timetable extends for years, for decades to come,” he said.

“Many of our young people have never heard of the Korean war, nor can they find two Koreas on a map. Each of us has a solemn obligation to let people know what Memorial Day is and what it’s all about,” Myers said.

After a flag-folding ceremony by the legion, narrated by Caballero on the significance of each of the 13 traditional folds, Nelson read a roll call of 24 local military veterans who died in 2008. The reading of each name was followed by the ringing of a bell.

Representatives of 15 local military and civic organizations laid commemorative wreaths on graves sheltered by the cemetery’s towering Aleppo pines, followed by a rifle salute and a rendition of “Taps.”

In one of the most popular aspects of the ceremony, veterans of the various branches of the U.S. military stood up to salute as the band played their branch’s theme song.

And, like clockwork, four A-10s from the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base’s 354th Fighter Squad flew over the cemetery just seconds after the bagpiper led the colors out.

Green Valley resident Don Severe, an Air Force veteran, said he was particularly moved by the ceremony.

“Everybody should know this. Everybody should know what they (the departed veterans) did,” he said.

Kathy Engle is a freelance writer who lives in Amado. You can contact her at kdengle@earthlink.net.