The Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary overflowed with residents last Monday who had gathered for the annual Memorial Day Ceremonies to once again honor members of the military who lost their lives while serving in various branches of the United States armed forces.
Flags waved in the breeze, and paper poppies bloomed from buttonholes during the ceremony, which was organized by the Veterans Council of Indian River County.
In his welcome, Rev. Dave Newhart, Veterans Council board chairman, said that we live in a free society thanks to the sacrifices of men and women who perished in defense of our freedom.
“For us, this is a day of remembrance as we honor our friends and fellow warriors who made the ultimate sacrifice,” he continued.
Members of the Vero Beach High School Band played patriotic music, and later bagpiper Michael Hyde and bugler Duke Scales added to the sense of reverence as color guards passed in review, a wreath was placed among the cenotaphs, and the ship’s bell and a 21-gun salute punctuated the solemnity of the moment.
A Boots on the Ground display also added to the poignancy of the morning. Newhart explained that the combat boots had been placed on Sunday evening by members of the Next Generation Veterans, who guarded them throughout the night, to symbolize those lost in combat during wars and conflicts.
Highly decorated United States Air Force Brig. Gen. Randall C. “Arlo” Guthrie (Ret.), now a Vero Beach resident, was the keynote speaker.
Throughout his 31-year military career, Newhart said, Guthrie has accumulated more than 3,500 military and 1,400 civilian flying hours, in combat missions during Operation Enduring Freedom, in combat support missions to Southwest Asia, and in operations in Bosnia, Somalia and Haiti.
Guthrie noted that Memorial Day originated after the Civil War as a means for the country to “heal and remember the between 600,000 and 900,000 who died.” Putting it into perspective, he said, “that is the combined total populations of everyone living in Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin County.”
In 1968 Congress designated Memorial Day as a federal holiday and, 32 years later, the National Moment of Remembrance Act was signed into law, calling for Americans to pause for one minute at 1500 hours (3 p.m. for civilians) each Memorial Day to remember those who died in service for our country.
“To ensure the sacrifices of America’s fallen were never forgotten,” explained Guthrie.
Acknowledging that we owe a debt of gratitude to those who paid the ultimate price from the Revolutionary War through Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, including during training, peacetime accidents or on classified missions, he said their family members also make a sacrifice.
“Their parents, spouses, sons, daughters and grandchildren all miss out on the opportunity to experience the love and support of their loved one,” said Guthrie.
“Although we cannot accurately estimate the impact of the loss of those who died serving our country, we do know the world would be a very different place without them.”
Guthrie quoted from Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s 1962 address to West Point cadets, saying that a soldier’s “guidepost stands out like a ten-fold beacon in the night: Duty, Honor and Country.”
Guthrie added: “Although the cost is enormous, both in the loss to the families, friends, communities and our country, we all have the opportunity to honor our fallen heroes by guiding and shaping our country through our service and sacrifice.”
Photos by Kaila Jones
