A day of sacred remembrance

Residents and visitors from near and far traveled to the Aurora Cemetery Monday morning to attend an emotional Memorial Day service and honor the veterans who fought, served and protected their country. The service was sponsored by the American Legion Lester S. Harter Post 42.
Throughout the morning, folks walked around the cemetery searching for the graves of their loved ones to bring flowers, reminding them that, along with selfless acts, they will never be forgotten.
Prior to the service commencing at 10:30 a.m., the Hamilton Community Band performed a variety of patriotic songs as families gathered underneath the trees and with the American flags.
Post 42 Commander David Owen welcomed everyone and thanked them for attending the ceremony.
“This day is sacred with almost invisible presence of those who have gone before us,” Owen said. “We honor the memory of those who gave their lives in the service of our country and those who dropped their burdens by the wayside of life and have gone to their eternal rest. May the ceremonies of today deepen our reverence for our regarded friends and members.”
Members and scoutmasters of Boy Scout Troop 28 were called to advance the colors and raise the American flag at the Veterans Memorial while veterans gave a proper hand salute and civilians a hand over their hearts.
The scouts led the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by an invocation by Pastor Bob Gannon and the playing of the “Star-Spangled Banner” by the Community Band.
Owen then introduced the special speaker of the ceremony, VFW Post 4493 Commander David McKimmey, who joined the Army in 2005 as an Infantryman. He served until he was injured in Iraq in September of 2007.
McKimmey welcomed Post 42, Post 4993, distinguished guests and everyone in attendance.
“It is a profound yet somber honor to stand before you today,” McKimmey said. “As we gather today for Memorial Day, we gather not merely as a community in observation of a holiday, but as a nation mourning those we have lost in battle and those we have lost to the battles after the war.”
McKimmey reminded everyone that Memorial Day wasn’t just a time to celebrate.
“All are truly aware that today is not the unofficial start of the summer,” he said. “It’s not a day of sales, BBQ’s and celebrations, but a day of sacred remembrance. We are here today to pay tribute to the men and women who gave their last full measure of devotion to this nation. Their last breath, the true ultimate sacrifice. ”
McKimmey is a proud member of the VFW and the American Legion, having stated that both were founded on “the premise and promise to never let the sacrifices our fallen warriors be forgotten.”
“I have seen and felt the weight of this day as many of you here have,” McKimmey said. “I have seen it in the eyes of a mother holding a folded flag. I have heard the silence of this day with the empty chairs at our post tables. And I have experienced the weight of this day in the heroic sacrifices of my own fallen brothers and sisters on the battlefield.”
Having often seen “freedom isn’t free” or “land of the free, home of the brave” used as a hashtag or images on merchandise, McKimmey stated it’s far more than that.
“But for those of us who have served, had loved ones serve or currently are serving and for the families who live with a gold star in their window, that cost is not an abstract concept… it is a permanent absence,” McKimmey said. “It is the silence of a phone that will never ring with their name on caller ID. It is the birthday of a child, brother, sister, mom or day who we will never get to see blow out their birthday candles or a child never knowing their father or mother. It is the life of a brother or sister in arms who never made it home.”
McKimmey stated that Memorial Day was a day to remember all the farmers who became servicemen and veterans who served throughout history.
“The greatest generation who freed continents,” he said. “We honor the warriors of Korea and Vietnam, who fought with unwavering grit and unbreakable resolve in the face of what seemed like impossible conditions. And last, we remember the brave men and women or our most recent conflicts in Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan and most recently Iran. We honor these warriors who walked into the fire and stood as a shield for our nation in a dangerous world, where good men and women must do bad things to protect the ones we love, our country and people we will never know.”
He reminded everyone in attendance that the veterans who served were also mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, wives and husbands.
“They were ordinary people who, when called upon, did extraordinary things. They left behind dreams, futures and legacies,” he said. “They left behind families and families not yet made, all for something larger than themselves. And they did it for you. For people they would never know. Because of their sacrifice, we are able to live in a nation where we are free to disagree, we are free to dream and we are free to gather as we are today.”
McKimmey emphasized that it was everyone’s responsibility to make sure the names of the fallen are not lost in history and are passed to children and future generations.
“We must ensure that the next generations growing up in our community know that their liberty and freedoms were defended by the people resting under the flags in the cemetery down the road,” he said.
McKimmey shared with those gathered they can never stop telling the stories of the veterans or dishonor their courageous sacrifices. He noted that the VFW and the American Legion can not do that alone.
“On this Memorial Day, I ask you to look past the sales, BBQs and long weekend,” McKimmey said. “Take a moment of true silence. Say their names. Reflect, reflect on the lives and the youth of those buried here today. And most importantly, let us resolve to live lives worthy of each of their sacrifices. Let us build a community and nation worthy of their devotion. In doing this, we ensure their memory lives on. Not just in stone, but in the way we treat each other.”
After McKimmey concluded his speech, the Community Band played “Salute to America’s Finest” with veterans standing and saluting to the official song of their branch. Military branches included the U.S. Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Marines, Air Force and Space Force.
The Roll Call of the Deceased was read by veterans Mike Powell, Ron Elge and Alan Anderson, who listed the names of veterans who served during the U.S. Civil War to recent wars such as Afghanistan.
After a 21-gun salute to the deceased by the Legion 42 Honor Squad, taps were played by Byron Paschke.
Services were also held at Hampton, Mamre, Kronborg, Phillips, Stockham and Farmer’s Valley cemeteries.