Assistant Editor Jerry Lindsey wrote this article and took the photos.
Monday, May 31, 2021, was a day of remembering, celebrating, and reuniting. The streets of Morrison, IL, were lined with good spirits as the procession of flags, emergency vehicles, horses, retired military personnel, and others made their way to the Veterans Memorial Park, for the annual recognition of Memorial Day, at Grove Hill Cemetery.
The air was fresh, with a welcome absence of masking and social gathering, which had dominated the community’s activities for the past months.
Jim Prombo, Morrison American Legion representative, welcomed the crowd, ceremony participants, and speaker Chief Jerry Brearton, United States Navy, Retired. Brearton offered words of encouragement and remembering, in a message mixed with humor and military details fitting to the day.
After the Invocation, Prombo pronounced a first-time “Ceremonial Roll Call.” He called the names of three veterans, who replied they were in attendance. Then he called for Lt. Colonel Stanley R. Mitick (USAF.) There was no reply; which acknowledged the passing of Mitick in 2020. He was a WWll veteran and an active contributor to the City of Morrison.
Military procedural presentations included posting the Colors; reciting the Pledge of Allegiance; singing of the National Anthem; recognizing Armed Service members and their parents/family members; laying a wreath in front of the pavilion; a 21-gun salute; a trumpet salute of Taps; retiring of the American flag.
These rituals always form an environment of appreciation for our freedom and for the ones that made sacrifices to protect that freedom.
