Edmond veterans honor past, present sacrifices

MARK SCHLACHTENHAUFEN

The Edmond Sun

Veterans and all Americans may honor soldiers who fought and died for their country by "acting on the principles of freedom and justice in our dealings with our fellow men," said Bill Milam, commander of VFW Post 4938.

Milam made the remarks during Edmond's Memorial Day ceremony Monday at Gracelawn Cemetery, where an estimated 7,000 veterans are buried.

Milam urged fellow veterans to give their full support to a "magnificent" new generation of American heroes fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"This is the present front-line of freedom and if we are to help preserve that for which our comrades gave their lives we must fight with all imagination the spirit of fear and despair that walks our land," Milam said. "We must reawaken the spirit that inspired those who won our freedom for us. This is a task at which we cannot fail if we are to challenge or discharge our responsibilities to those we honor on Memorial Day."

Human memory is short, Milam told the veterans, family members and friends who had come to honor the living and the dead. It is important to remember. That is why this day was set aside.

"On this day our thoughts travel around the earth to places we will never see again," Milam said. "With the mind's eye we see an exploding hillside, the ocean pouring with ships and debris, a parachute disappearing through a tangle of trees. Far beyond the horizon lie the remains of comrades in arms who died in our places. They are silent. We must speak for them, because each of us knows, 'It might as well have been me.'"

They were young men, soldiers, sailors, flyers, Marines, Milam said. They were brothers, husbands and fathers. They were proud to be Americans.

"They sailed, marched and flew into battle and today a new generation of Americans is doing the same," Milam said. "They won the victory, which we hope we will do again. They won on the fields where their remains still lie. But we're alive here in the land of our birth. We are still free to build our lives and lead them under the freedom they won for us."

Because of their sacrifices, veterans, in particular, have a deeper responsibility to honor them, Milam said.

"They died for democracy and freedom so it is up to us to make our democracy flourish," he said.

A poignant tribute was the table for one, set up in front of the speaker's podium. After each mention, Milam said, "Remember."

An empty chair symbolized sacrifices made by prisoners of war. A white tablecloth stood for the purity of their intentions.

A single rose in a vase represented their families, awaiting their return. A red ribbon tied around the vase symbolized the need for a full accounting of soldiers missing in action.

A slice of lemon on a plate served to remind Americans of their bitter fate. Salt on the plate symbolized their families' tears as they wait for them.

An inverted glass was a reminder that these soldiers cannot toast with their families today.

Several Edmond veterans participated in the ceremony. Buford Ford placed a wreath at the base of the veterans memorial. Arland Perkins, Cliff Lewis and Jack Walter placed roses there. Then, Milam added a folded American flag.

In deference to those who struggled with painful memories, Milam bypassed the traditional playing of Taps.

A respectful gathering of area residents attended the ceremony. Betty Canham, secretary for the Lady's Auxiliary of VFW Post 4938, said the event was for Edmond veterans, family members and citizens.

She said in her experience, Americans are as patriotic as ever.

"People are probably even more patriotic now than they have been in several years," Canham said. "They're very involved in events. People are more aware, paying attention, to their past, to veterans."

Quimby Enterline fought in Italy during World War II. He came to the ceremony because he believes strongly in its meaning.

"Memorial Day means that we fought for our country and we're free," Enterline said. "If we hadn't of gone, we wouldn't be free."

Arland Perkins served for two years in Vietnam and a total of 20 years in the military. He said he is somewhat concerned that the true meaning of Memorial Day is being blurred, but he believes that patriotism in America is alive and well.

Prior to Memorial Day, Edmond veterans helped place some 7,000 flags around the cemetery. They delivered others to Edmond businesses.