The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
On Memorial Day, a service was held at LaHarpe City Park at the site of the Veterans Memorial.
For those attending, it was a time of reflection on the cost of our freedom and also to honor those who protect it.
In Mayor Kenneth Brown's welcome, he recited from a letter he had received with questions and answers concerning the guards at the tomb of the unknown soldier in Washington, D.C.
Some of the qualifications of the guards are that they are never to curse or to drink for the rest of their lives. He carries his gun on his shoulder opposite of the tomb. When he turns and walks back, he moves the gun to the other shoulder.
A Gold Star Pin was presented by Arlene Gard to Donna James, mother of La Harpe's Evan James who lost his life in Iraq last year fighting for our country.
Dan Gillett gave the key note speech. He and his wife, Martha, had attended the WW II Memorial ceremonies in Washington, D.C. for its 60th Anniversary.
He reported that 1,192,677 American lives have been lost in all wars combined. That equals the population of Dallas, Texas, or Phoenix, Arizona.
Four hundred thousand Americans died in WW II. As part of the National Memorial, a wall near the monument has 4,000 gold stars, one to represent each 100 Americans who died.
The memorial also includes 56 granite pillars, each 17 feet high and each representing a U.S. state or territory. The pillars are linked to arches that represent the war fronts in Europe and in Asia.
The Gilletts were among the 200,000-250,000 people who attended and enjoyed visiting with veterans there and hearing their stories.
Deloris Rodeffer read, "Flanders Field" and Melissa Burt sang a very moving selection called, " Letters from War."
The Junior High band performed and the American Legion post #301 gave the 21 gun salute at the closing. Taps were played by Lindsey Pollock and LaShay Rodeffer.