A Veterans Day tribute was held at the eleventh hour, on the eleventh day, of the eleventh month, of the year 2016, at Grove Hill Cemetery, High and N. Genesee Streets, Morrison, IL. This annual event was begun to mark the signing of the Armistice between the Allies of World War I and Germany. That took place November 11, 1918, at Compiègne, France, and brought the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front.
In 1938 Armistice Day became a National holiday. Later, Congress changed the name to Veterans Day, a time of remembrance to include veterans of all conflicts.
Beginning shortly before 11:00 a.m., Friday, November 11, members of the American Legion gathered. Left-to-right standing in formation are Ron Wiersema, speaker Jim Prombo, Ken Petersen, Fred Steele, Bob Brands, Terry Brearton, Bob Atherton, Jeff Steele, and Dale Usterbowski.
James Prombo delivered the following remarks.
Across this Nation on this day, many speeches will be given to honor those who served to defend our Country and all nations of the world from tyranny. On this day in 1961, John F. Kennedy said, “In a world tormented by great tension and the possibility of conflict, we meet in a quiet commemoration of an historic day of peace. In an age that threatens the survival of freedom, we join together to honor those who made our freedom possible.”
In his speech made 55 years ago, JFK recognized those who had served, while also noting the dangers to freedom that existed in those times. Today we are here to recognize those same veterans and all those who have joined their ranks and have served during all the wars, conflicts, and skirmishes of these past five-and-a-half decades. Our world still faces the same tensions and possible conflicts, and our brave men and women still serve as our protectors. Ours is a nation that, with the help of God and even in our human weakness, has attempted to share with all nations the rights our creator has bestowed upon us–the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Those who have served have not sought to conquer, but to share our freedoms.
At the 40th anniversary celebration of the 1944 D-Day landing in France, President Ronald Reagan spoke to all present, but specifically to those who were veterans of that terrible war. He said, “The men of Normandy had faith that what they were doing was right; faith that they fought for all humanity; faith that a just God would grant them mercy on this beachhead or on the next. It was the deep knowledge–and pray God we have not lost it–that there is a profound moral difference, between the use of force for liberation and the use of force for conquest. You were here to liberate, not to conquer, and, so, you and those others did not doubt your cause. And you were right not to doubt.”
And so, today, we once again honor our veterans. We pray to our God that He protect those who have served, those serving now, and those serving in the future, in the hope that we will always be a nation which, if called, will serve to share the blessings of freedom that are so much a part of our heritage.
The City warning siren was sounded at the appointed hour, signaling a minute of remembrance.
F. Steele ordered the three-round rifle salute by Prombo, Brands, Brearton, Atherton (behind the flagpole), J. Steele, and Usterbowski.
As she has done for over two decades, Carolyn Aiken played “Taps” to conclude the ceremony. Click here to hear it performed by various members of the United States Navy Band.
Refreshments were served at American Legion Post #328, 306 E. Main Street, Morrison.
