Lowell marks Memorial Day with annual ceremony
The community of Lowell held their annual Memorial Day ceremony at the war memorial on May 26, asking the large crowd in attendance to remember the fallen soldiers who gave their lives in service to our country.
Among the dignitaries in attendance were Lake County councilman Randy Niemeyer, Cedar Creek Township trustee Alice Dahl, Cedar Creek Township board member Dan Blankenship, Eagle Creek Township trustee Rose Morrow and West Creek Township trustee Heidi Laub.
VFW Post 6841 commander Mike Beckrich welcomed everyone to the event. The US Navy Sea Cadets, Stars and Stripes Division presented the colors, then the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Adelie Mink sung the national anthem afterwards.
American Legion Post 101 chaplain John Cluver gave the invocation, noting our country’s values of justice, freedom, democracy and loyalty. Cluver said the former three qualities are expected from our government, and the latter quality is expected from Americans. He noted there are too many who have come home wounded, are still missing in action or have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.
Beckrich stressed to the crowd there is “no freedom without bravery, and those we honor today were brave when it counted the most.” He said our members of the military made these sacrifices for love of country, and those who dwell within.
“We take great pride in these heroes,” Beckrich said. “The men and women who believe they were just doing their duty.”
Gov. Mike Braun’s Senior Policy Adviser for the Northwest Region, Anthony Ferraro, read a letter from the governor. In the letter, Braun reminded everyone in attendance they gather not only to remember our servicemen and women’s sacrifice for our country but also to “reaffirm the values they fought to protect freedom, democracy and the enduring spirit of the American people.” Braun said in his letter we should never take that peace for granted.
“Each name, each story, is a thread in the fabric of our shared history,” Braun’s letter read. “While there are no longer with us, their legacy lives on in our communities, our families and in the very soul of America.”
LeAnn Angerman read a letter from US Senator Jim Banks. In his letter, the senator said our country is the greatest nation on Earth that is “unique in human history for its dedication to liberty,” quickly pointing out that freedom isn’t free.
“On Memorial Day, we pause to remember those who gave their lives for our freedom,” Banks’ letter read. “From the Revolutionary War to the beaches of Normandy to the deserts of Afghanistan, we remember the heroes who, in the words of the hymn, more than self, their country love and mercy more than life.”
State Senator Rick Niemeyer recalled Memorial Day as an important holiday while he was growing up. His father, Ernie Niemeyer, was a World War II veteran. Rick Niemeyer fondly recalled what Memorial Day meant around his childhood home.
“My dad was a World War II veteran,” Rick Niemeyer said. “He served in the South Pacific. This was a big day for him. We’d go around with him during the year. We’d go to VFWs and Legions and AMVETS, and they were your pillars of the community growing up. That’s where I always wanted to go.”
Lowell Town Council president Todd Angerman reminded the audience of lessons learned in the classic Tom Hanks World War II movie “Saving Private Ryan.” Todd Angerman said He recalled the scene when the dying Captain Miller told Private Ryan to “earn this” sacrifice.
“When he was an elderly man, he went back to France and visited the grave site of Captain Miller,” Todd Angerman said. “At the grave site, he wondered out loud ‘I hope at least in your eyes I have earned all of you have done for me.’ Have we earned what they’ve done for us?”
State Representative Michael Aylesworth first acknowledged his fellow veterans who were participating in the ceremony. Aylesworth read off the number of soldiers from each war who gave their lives in service to our country. He said a total of 661,441 have been killed in action and 1.4 million have been injured in the line of duty since the Revolution War.
“I want to remind us all that eternal vigilance is the price of liberty,” Aylesworth said. “Freedom is not free. Not without the cost of human sacrifice and suffering.”