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VFW 764 MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATION
by Bill Jones
It's Memorial Day, nine a.
m., and I hear the rap and roll of drums
Then the flash of police car emergency lights, announcing the parade,
and here it comes
Down East McMurray, blocked this day, to Valley Brook and the VFW lot
The program shows the "Order of Parade," and each unit is in
its spot
Here comes the VFW 764 Color
Guard. I know each one of these men
Their step is crisp, flags and weapons gripped tight, still determined
this nation to defend
The crowd responds, from old folks like me to the toddlers holding Mom's
hand
This sight :fil1s the mind and grasps the heart so much so you can't
even hear the band
Another Color Guard follows,
American Legion 944, and holds our attention again
These men, patriotically proved, many times, no matter where or when
Dignitary cars go by, main speaker, Reverend, and young students who
have won a prize
Two young champions will speak with wisdom and maturity that will come
to some as surprise
The PTHS Marching Band
blaring military brass as expected with Doctor Dell in control
Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Brownies, Cubs, Historical Re-enactors dressed
to :fit the roll
Then the Soccer League, with their SUV Moms, followed by the motorcycle
roar
Then the Ambulance, Antique Cars, and Fire Trucks, that's the end, there
are no more
The crowd drifts in and fills the lot
listening to the opening remarks of Dominic's invitation
They grow stiff and proud and they face the flag as the National Anthem
confirms this celebration
Murphy and Lawrence raise the flag to the top, then back to memorial
half-mast
The invocation honors battlefield dead, many here remember these
comrades of their past
The booming first volley of the 21 Gun
Salute startles the crowd to protective positions
Volley two, volley three, reminds veterans of the Flanders Fields war
conditions
And they think of the verse on the program back that attempts this venue
to show
"The larks, still bravely singing fly, scarce heard amid the guns
below."
Silence ...the buglers step forth and
begin. The haunting echoed Taps is played
Gene and Marge slowly pace toward the granite monument as the solemn
wreath is laid
The wreath provokes a sacred pause ...the silence broken by De Franco's
voice
Local dignitaries wave, then Joe Orient presents the VOD committee's
choice
A young man steps forth ...no ...he's a
high school boy, the Champion of VOD
His eloquent introductory remarks prepare the crowd for the depth of his
papers creed
He enthralls the assembly from beginning to end with mature evaluation
of history
We can hear and feel the leadership and courage expressed will lead this
nation to a proud destiny
The Middle School champion takes the
stage and speaks with similar guile
The applause for both is a roar as the VFW committee show a proud
confidential smile
The Marching Band and Drill Team show appreciation with a sprite
military rendition
As they finish their show and fall back into rows Captain Soltz takes
his position
The Captain is back from Iraq, with
warrior stories to tell, but he starts by talking to the youth
How important his years as a Boy Scout have been in preparing him for
life's serious truth's
Then he brings the war home to the adults in the crowd, stirring
memories in the uniformed men
He attests to the hell of war as he tells how his sergeant's life came
to an end
The Captain concludes with a promise that this necessary war will
produce success
Then we know with leaders like Captain Soltz this nation is truly
blessed
Commander Scherrer closes the ceremonies,
to him the Captain's report was an encore
This Purple Heart WWII veteran knows full well the ravages of war
His voice trembles from a heart hollowed by comrades lost, as the
telegrams told
These two soldiers, though generations apart, were produced by the very
same mold
I witnessed this program with a WWII
Flyer awarded medals galore
But the greatest reward we both received was landing back on the USA
shore
We agreed this Tribute was the best we had seen. most eyes in the crowd
had a tear
I know where these folks will be on Memorial Day 2005; they will
congregate right here
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