Remembering the Fallen: Memorial Day Ceremony Emphasizes the True Meaning of Sacrifice

Memorial Day, a day traditionally associated with barbecues and long weekends, holds a deeper, more profound meaning. It is a day set aside to honor the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. This year, the annual Van Wert American Legion Post 178 Memorial Day service at Woodland Cemetery served as a poignant reminder of the true significance of this national holiday, emphasizing the need to teach and learn the history of sacrifice that underpins the freedoms we enjoy.

Remembering the Fallen: Memorial Day Ceremony Emphasizes the True Meaning of Sacrifice

 

The ceremony, held on a cool, breezy morning, drew a large crowd, eager to pay their respects to those who gave their lives in service to their country. The keynote speaker, Stephanie Renner, a teacher and Veterans Day program coordinator at Lincolnview, delivered a powerful message that resonated deeply with the audience.

 

 

"To many, Memorial Day just seems to be another holiday off of work," Renner began, her words tinged with a quiet but profound sadness. "Do our children really know what today means? Do they know the powerful impact of losing someone they love who chose to selflessly serve others? This is why understanding Memorial Day is so crucial for not only our youth but for our community as a whole. We need to come together, to remember, to hold those grieving, and to acknowledge all of those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect those they will never meet."

 

 

Renner, in her eloquent and heartfelt speech, delved into the true meaning of sacrifice, urging those present to understand the weight of the decision made by those who chose to enlist, to leave their families, friends, and jobs behind, knowing that they might not return. She stressed the importance of remembering those who died, not just as names on a monument, but as individuals with stories, dreams, and families.

 

 

"Our future generations need to be told about what it truly means to be a veteran," she continued, her voice gaining strength and conviction. "They need to understand what they sacrificed to serve our country, the challenges they faced, the risks they took. They did so without asking for anything in return."

 

 

Renner's words were deeply personal, woven with the threads of her own family history. She spoke of her great-grandfather, Lawrence Gehres, who served in World War I, and her grandfathers, Vernon C. Kill, who served in the U.S. Army during World War II, and Richard Gehres, a World War II veteran who served in the U.S. Navy. She shared poignant stories about their service and the sacrifices they made, bringing the abstract concept of war and loss into the realm of personal experience.

She particularly focused on her grandfather, Vernon C. Kill, whose injuries during World War II ultimately led to his early demise. "Although he did not die on a battlefield, the injuries he sustained in World War II would ultimately cost him his life," Renner said, her voice laced with both sorrow and admiration. "From reading his letters to home to speaking with family members, my grandfather made huge sacrifices while serving in World War II. These sacrifices led to him being awarded many medals and commendations, including two Purple Hearts."

 

 

Renner spoke of Kill's unwavering courage, describing how he attempted to save as many of his men as possible when he was shot on a bridge by a Nazi tank. Even after barely surviving his injuries, he chose to return to the front line, where he was wounded once again. "He was a man who would do anything for those he loved," she said, her voice choked with emotion.

 

 

Renner further touched upon the emotional depth of her relationship with her other grandfather, Richard Gehres, who passed away on Memorial Day in 2011. She shared how Gehres instilled in her a deep respect for veterans and a profound love for her country. "He was so incredibly special and taught me so many things, including my love for this country and to honor our veterans," Renner said. "He was so special to me that I actually took him in for show-and-tell when I was in elementary school on a day that you were supposed to bring in something that means the most to you."

 

 

The poignancy of her story reached a crescendo when she described the events of that fateful Memorial Day. Gehres, despite feeling unwell, insisted on attending the Memorial Day program. He called to say he wouldn't be able to make it, but was rushed to the hospital, where he suffered a massive heart attack. "They informed us he had a massive heart attack and they were sure how he even survived," Renner shared, her voice trembling slightly. "Lutheran Lifeflight was called due to the extent of the damage and to get him to the hospital as quickly as possible in Fort Wayne. The flight told everyone they ‘had the most special passenger aboard, a World War II veteran,’ and grandpa thought that was wonderful as he always had a love for flying."

 

 

As the flight took off, Gehres, despite his dire situation, gave his daughter a thumbs up and said, "Don't forget to put my flag out before you head to Lutheran." His final request, even in the face of his own mortality, was to honor the very symbol of the sacrifices he made.

 

 

"Little did we know that within the next few minutes he would have a second heart attack," Renner concluded, her voice catching. "The Lifeflight nurse never stopped doing compressions on my grandpa the entire flight and later told us all he wanted to do was save this World War II veteran on Memorial Day."

Renner's powerful personal narrative, interwoven with her call to remember and honor veterans, provided a deeply moving and impactful conclusion to her speech. She emphasized the importance of preserving the memory of those who gave their lives for our freedoms, urging listeners to ensure that their sacrifices are never forgotten.

 

 

American Legion Post 178 Commander Ken Myers, in his opening remarks, acknowledged the bittersweet nature of Memorial Day for veterans. "Veterans have three days they look forward to, yet cringe at the same time – Armed Forces Day (the third Saturday of May), Veterans Day (November 11) and Memorial Day, the final Monday of May," Myers said. "Today is Memorial Day and we celebrate those who made the ultimate sacrifice with their lives for our freedom. While most will be celebrating with a barbeque or get-together of some sort, please take a moment to pay tribute to those who are not here to enjoy this day any longer."

 

 

The ceremony concluded with patriotic music by the Paul Hoverman Group, a poignant placing of the wreath by Renner and her son, Carter Renner, a solemn 21-gun salute and taps, and the invocation and benediction by Dick Elder. The event concluded with a cannon volley fired in honor of Civil War veterans who died in combat.

 

 

Following the ceremony, a free luncheon was held at Post 178, providing an opportunity for community members to gather, share stories, and further reflect on the sacrifices made by those who died in service to their country.

 

 

While the festivities of Memorial Day may include barbecues and picnics, the essence of the holiday lies in remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice. The ceremony at Woodland Cemetery served as a powerful reminder of this truth, urging those present to embrace the deeper meaning of Memorial Day and to honor those who gave their lives so that others could live in freedom.