Newspaper Page Text
Page 2A - Pike County Journal Reporter - Wednesday, June 9, 2021
PHOTOS BY JOHN ELLIS
Above left, the multi-organizational Color Guard for the Memorial Day program included SFC Stephen Ponce, SFC Eric Loving and SSG Jonathon Hansen from the U.S. Army Recruiting Com
mand in Griffin, Stephen Golias, Stefan Huckaby and Matt Germain from the Pike County American Legion Post 197, Melissa Patten from the Legion Auxiliary Unit 197 and Jason Patten from the
Sons of the American Legion, Squadron 197. Above right, Millie Smith an upcoming ninth grader gazes at the American flag as she sings the National Anthem.
Post 197's Memorial Day parade, program draw large crowd
BY JOHN ELLIS
news@pikecojntygeorgia.com
A large crowd of
around 100 citizens
gathered at the court
house on Memorial Day
to honor those who gave
the ultimate sacrifice in
defending our nation as
American Legion Post
197 hosted a parade, fol
lowed by the Memorial
Day program. Speakers
at the program included
District 131 Rep. and
Pike native Beth Camp,
CPT Herbert Cyrus, Com
mander of the Peachtree
City Recruiting Company
and SFC Stephen Ponce,
Station Commander, SFC
Eric Loving and SSG Jon
athon Hansen, recruiters
from the Griffin Recruit
ing Station. The National
Anthem was sung by
Ninth Grade Academy
student Millie Smith.
“Citizens all over
America, like us, have
gathered together to
participate in Memorial
Day activities. Volunteers
place American flags at
service member graves
in local and national
cemeteries through
out the world. There
are monuments to the
war dead with color
ful flowered wreaths
which we will do later
in the program. As we
did, some communities
are conducting parades
to recognize Memorial
Day. The activities we
do on Memorial Day, are
what makes this day so
special. We honor the
more than one million
men and women who
lost their lives defending
America in wars from the
Revolution to the Global
War on Terrorism. This
is why we hear and say,
“Freedom is not free.”
Those heroes paid for
our freedom,” said Post
197 commander Bryan
Richardson. “We are here
today, not because we
have been forced to be
here; but, we are here
because we want to be
here. We owe it to those
who sacrificed every
thing and were deprived
of the very freedoms
they fought for and we
now cherish; our life,
liberty and the pursuit of
happiness. Let us never
lose focus of what Me
morial Day means.”
Post 197 commander
Richardson also shared
the history of Memorial
Day which started after
the Civil War when more
than 600,000 soldiers
died and the formal prac
tice of decorating graves
started.
“One version of how
Memorial Day began
was in the summer of
1865, when a prominent
local druggist, Henry
Welles, from the village
of Waterloo, New York
mentioned to some of his
friends at a social gather
ing that while praising
the living veterans of
the Civil War, it would
be well to remember
the patriotic dead by
placing flowers on their
graves. Nothing resulted
from this suggestion
until he advanced the
idea again the following
spring to General John
Murray. Murray, a civil
war hero and intensely
patriotic, supported the
idea wholeheartedly and
marshalled veterans’
support. Plans were
developed for a more
complete celebration by
a local citizens’ commit
tee headed by Welles
and Murray. On May 5,
1866, the village was
decorated with flags at
half staff and with black
ribbons. Veterans, civic
societies and residents,
led by General Murray,
marched to the strains
of martial music to the
three village cemeteries
where impressive cer
emonies were held and
soldiers’ graves deco
rated. One year later, on
May 5, 1867, the ceremo
nies were repeated. In
1868, Waterloo joined
with other communities
in holding their obser
vance on May 30, in
accordance with General
Logan’s orders,” said
commander Richardson.
He noted that on May
5, 1868, three days after
the Civil War ended,
Gen. John Logan issued
a proclamation calling
for “Decoration Day” to
be observed annually
ai
' & ■
M
Above, the Memorial Day parade included floats and military vehicles like the one above, deco
rated with the American Legion flag. Below, speakers at the Memorial Day program included
(l-r) District 131 Rep. Beth Camp, U.S. Army Capt. Herbert W. Cyrus and Post 197 commander
Bryan Richardson.
and nationwide. It was
meant as a time for the
nation to decorate the
graves of fallen soldiers.
It was observed for the
first time that year on
May 30th. This date was
chosen because it was
the time that flower-blos
soms would be at their
peak. After World War
I, all American soldiers
were honored. Up until
this point, Memorial Day
only officially celebrated
those soldiers who had
died in the Civil War.
Since then, Memorial
Day honors all military
who served and died
for the United States of
America. The name for
the holiday gradually
changed from “Decora
tion Day” to “Memorial
Day” which was a term
first used in 1882. It did
not become more com
mon until after World
War 11, and was not de
clared the official name
until 1967.
Near the end of the
program, Rep. Beth
Camp and Capt. Herbert
Cyrus placed a wreath at
the Veterans Memorial
as Honor Guard member
Legionnaires Huckaby
and Germain assisted.
After the placement of
the wreath, there was a
moment of silence, and
then the playing of Taps.
A total of 37 veterans
Citizens of all ages enjoyed
the Memorial Day parade and
program, including (above)
Oliver and Aiden Burns.
from Pike County passed
away since the previ
ous Memorial Day and
they were honored at
the program, including,
from the U.S. Navy, John
T. Millwood, Thomas M.
Brown, Marley H. Lance,
James W. Lawrence,
Alfred L. Walker, James
Killingsworth, James R.
Boswell, Billy J. Rogers,
Orvis G. Haney, Len H.
Camp, Don H. Thomas,
Charles G. West and
Richard A. Curtis; from
the U.S. Army, Marion O.
Gooden, Bill H. Poston,
Robert E. Kempson,
Lawson J. Ison, James
H. Stone, Sr., William
R. Reedy, Ephron W.
Yearwood, Harold O.
Jennings, Kenneth E.
Web, Douglas E. Jones
and Richard L. Jett,
Sr.; from the U.S. Air
Force, William D. Allen,
Jr., Charles E. Johnson,
Benny W. Thompson,
Louis V. Dotson, Douglas
T. Rounds, Jimmie J. Gar
rett, Douglas M. Taylor,
Jay S. Rogers, Wendall
A. Golias, Frank L. Bates,
James M. McCurdy and
Robert Brown; and from
the U.S. Marines, Gordon
A. Sheriff.
Pike County
Journal Reporter
16026 Barnesville St. • Zebulon
www.pikecountygeorgia.com
jennifer@pikecountygeorgia.com
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