Veterans asked to ‘pass the word’

Area veterans were encouraged to share their military stories with family members, friends, “and especially young people,” by USAF Col. John E. Marselus, guest speaker Tuesday at the Veterans Day ceremony at Green Valley Mortuary and Memorial Gardens.

Nearly 300 former service men and women, as well as young and old onlookers gathered on the crisp fall Arizona morning to hear Marselus, commander of the Air Force Southern Combined Air and Space Operations Center headquarters, Twelfth Air Force at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.

Coordinated by Green Valley Branch No. 77 Fleet Reserve Association, Marselus was introduced to the crowd, many wearing military medals and ribbons, by John B. Ruse, Lcdr. USNR (Ret.) who presented a short biography about the colonel, highlighting his dozens of military honors, as well as announcing the speaker is a father of six children ages four to 18.

“This man does not waste time,” Ruse said, amusing the listeners.

Rather than talk about himself, Marselus, whose parents both served in World War II, chose to highlight the military accomplishments of others.

The highly decorated Marselus shared stories of many fallen soldiers who perished in both World Wars, the war in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq.

“It’s because of the many men and women out here today that we stand and have the liberty and freedom we now enjoy,” Marselus said. “Our freedoms and our liberties are only one generation away. If that next generation doesn’t stand up and toe the line, we’ll lose those freedoms.”

Marselus asked that veterans’ stories be told to the young.

“Many of you have stories that need to be passed on to those young men and women, to those children, to those grandchildren, and may I even say — some of those great-grandchildren out there.”

Following the guest speaker, 19 groups participated in laying of the wreaths: Air Force Association; American Legion Post No. 66; American Legion Post No. 66 Auxiliary; Sons of American Legion; Daughters of the American Revolution; Madera Canyon Chapter; Fleet Reserve Association Branch No. 77; Green Valley Elks Lodge No. 2592; Green Valley Masonic Lodge No. 71; Green Valley Lions Club; Knights of Columbus, Padre Kino Assembly Fourth Degree; Knights of Pythias; Military Officers Association of Green Valley; Military Order of World Wars; Santa Cruz Valley Chapter; Navy Junior ROTC Sahuarita High School; US Submarine Veterans WW II; US Submarine Veterans Wives; Kiwanis Club of Green Valley; Marine Corps League of Green Valley; and Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post No. 8027.

Col. Eugene Freisen, U.S. Army (Ret.) chaplain, gave both the invocation and benediction.

The ceremony included patriotic music by the Bavarian Brass Band, conducted by Earl Harrison, as well as a rifle salute by the firing squad from American Legion Post No. 66 followed by Taps played by Phil Austin.

Participating color guards included: American Legion Post No. 66, American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 66; Boy Scout Troop 321 with Scout Master Mark Harris; Knights of Columbus, Padre Fourth Kino Assembly Fourth Degree; Sahuarita High School NJROTC under Cmdr. Joseph Battle and the Marine Corps League.

Sahuarita Elementary School children made cards for the veterans that were distributed to veterans in the crowd.

rford@gvnews.com | 547-9740