WIESBADEN, Germany " Wiesbaden community members gathered at Veterans Park on Wiesbaden Army Airfield May 26 to remember service members who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Timothy Penzien, commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 27, and Col. Jeffrey Dill, U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden commander, spoke about the importance of remembering the fallen and placed a wreath at the POW/MIA Memorial during the ceremony.
“Memorial Day is a sacred day to all war veterans,” said Penzien. “By honoring the nation’s war dead, we preserve their memory by honoring their service and sacrifice.”
The VFW post commander said that too often Americans take for granted the freedoms they enjoy. “Those freedoms were paid for with the lives of others. Our brothers and sisters in arms, past and present, have paid this debt and continue to pay for our freedom and the freedom of others less fortunate.”
Educating young people about the price of freedom and the value of sacrifice is critical for future generations, he added. “Public displays of patriotism are essential to assist the youth of the nation in understanding the gifts of sacrifice given by our fallen comrades.
“As America’s older war veterans disappear from society’s landscape, there are fewer and fewer standard-bearers left to carry the torch of remembrance,” Penzien said. “Such traditions will live on only if we instill understanding of the sacrifice made to our fellow citizens, especially our youth. They are the standard-bearers of our future " the torch-bearers of freedom.”
“Memorial Day is not to be a day of solemn mourning,” said the garrison commander, “but a day of reverent celebration.”
Referring to U.S. citizens who paid tribute to the fallen of the Civil War in 1866, Dill traced the nation’s heritage of tribute. “We have all been touched by the ultimate sacrifice Soldiers have made in service to their country and the suffering it has brought to mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, spouses and friends.”
Dill also reminded listeners to remember their fellow Soldiers in Baumholder " Pfc. Jacob Crebessa, Staff Sgt. Jose Pietri, Sgt. Scott Burgess and Sgt. Michael Lammerts " members of 1st Battalion, 84th Field Artillery, who were killed while serving in Afghanistan.
“We remember the families of the missing and Gold Star families who lost Soldiers to illness, injury and combat " who stood strong through uncertainty and whose resilience, dedication and commitment to their Soldiers continue to shine as beacons through the darkest hours of the rest of us,” he said.
“I ask you to remember those who stand shoulder to shoulder against terror and oppression to carry freedom’s torch in foreign lands,” Dill said. “Remember the Soldiers, support their families, never forget the missing and rejoice in their lives.”
Members of Wiesbaden High School’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps and band also took part in the Memorial Day observance.
Several local units and Scouts also traveled to U.S. military cemeteries in France to support and celebrate Memorial Day observances.
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