Cecil County honors the fallen on Memorial Day

NORTH EAST, Md. - The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6027 hosted its annual Memorial Day ceremony and service in honor of the Soldiers who have lost their lives for our country on May 30.

Maj. Gen. Robert Edmonson, senior commander for Aberdeen Proving Ground and commanding general of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command, and Danielle Hornberger, Cecil County executive, served as guest speakers.

Eugene Daley, commander of VFW post 6027 welcomed everyone in attendance, but “especially Gold Star families.” He welcomed Jim and Sandra Lyons, two Gold Star Parents of Sgt. James Lyons, a Soldier who died suddenly in September 2011.

“We know this ceremony won’t take away your grief,” Daley said. “But I hope it offers some solace that we remember and we will never forget.”

Hornberger, the daughter of a veteran, said she was “honored” to be invited to the ceremony. She said that many of the attendees have lost someone and asked that we reflect on their “tremendous sacrifices.”

“Today, we honor the fallen,” Hornberger said.

Edmonson thanked everyone for joining the service and for “honoring and remembering” the Soldiers who have paid the “ultimate sacrifice for our country.”

Memorial Day often signifies the bridge from spring to summer, but that isn’t the only reason we observe it, he remarked. Since the birth of the United States, nearly 1.2 million service members have lost their lives in defense of the country.

“While we enjoy the happy memories that come with Memorial Day weekend, it’s imperative that we remember the true reason behind these celebrations,” Edmonson said. “We are honoring the lives sacrificed and sharing the stories of those who can no longer tell their own.”

Edmonson spoke about several Soldiers and their stories, including Warrant Officer 1 Levi Ray Reynolds from Rising Sun, Maryland; Staff Sgt. Karl Gorman Taylor Sr. from Laurel, Maryland; 2nd Lt. Carol Ann Drazba and 2nd Lt. Elizabeth Jones, two of the first nurses killed in action in Vietnam.

“The men and women who served and sacrificed in Vietnam showed extreme bravery,” Edmonson said. “It was a war plagued with harrowing hand-to-hand combat and the constant need to keep one another safe.”

Edmonson said they exhibited the core Army values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage.

“These values continue to serve as a guide for the force and a common ground for all Soldiers,” Edmonson said. “Our all-volunteer force is a credit to Americans of all races, genders and creeds; our common commitment to the defense and love of our country binds us together and unifies us.”

Edmonson concluded his remarks by asking attendees to continue to share the names and stories of those we’ve lost in order to keep their memories alive.

After Edmonson’s remarks, Barry Persofsky, senior vice commander of VFW post 6027; Ray Conger, junior vice commander of VFW post 6027; John Stricklett, Officer of the day; Brenda Gardner, auxiliary president; and Daley laid flowers on the memorial post graves outside of the VFW to represent symbols of remembrance, purity, courage and love everlasting.

“Oh this day, we are assembled to express reverence,” Daley said. “This is to represent all those who served… we are in debt [to them].”

Attendees said they appreciated the remembrance and called it “wonderful.”

VFW Life Member Paul Kehnast said “without the U.S. military, there would be no United States of America.”

For more photos, visit:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/usagapg/52120239520/in/album-72177720299501955/