Remembering the Fallen: Memorial Day Service Continues Rain or Shine
Photo by Lakota McRoberts
Terry Keizer led the VFW in the solemn march to the cemetery, where he opened the Memorial Day service.
June 5, 2025
Lakota McRoberts - CRR Staff
This past Memorial Day, under a steady morning rain, local Veterans, members of the American Legion, the VFW, Auxiliary groups, and dedicated community volunteers came together once again to ensure that those who paid the ultimate price in service to our country were honored with the dignity and the remembrance they deserve.
Starting at 8:00 a.m., the Veterans gathered at the American Legion Post to prepare for the day’s remembrance ceremonies. By 9:00 a.m., the first service began at the Glennallen Cemetery, followed by a moving tribute at 10:00 a.m. at Moose Creek for those lost at sea—a solemn moment that culminated in the placement of a wreath in the living waters, symbolizing connection with those whose final resting place lies beneath the waves.
At 11:00 a.m., the ceremony continued at the Catholic cemetery in Tazlina before moving on to Copper Center Cemetery, beginning with the lower portion and finishing at the upper. Even in the rain, the spirit of the day held strong. Come rain or shine, our local veterans and community never fail to show up and honor their fallen brothers and sisters.
On Friday, prior to Memorial Day, volunteers and Veterans met just after 9:00 a.m. to replace worn and weathered flags on the graves of those who served, ensuring that each resting place was properly marked with respect. A couple of local youth also stepped forward to assist—an encouraging sign that the next generation understands the value of remembrance.
Memorial Day is more than just the unofficial start of summer. It is a day deeply rooted in American history and national character—a day where we pause not for celebration, but for reflection. Since the first shots were fired at Lexington and Concord, more than two million American service members have lost their lives in the defense of freedom. From the bloodied fields of the Civil War to the jungles of Vietnam, the sands of the Middle East to modern peacekeeping missions across the globe, they answered the call.
“These heroes were ordinary people, yet their actions were extraordinary. They didn’t fight for medals or recognition—they served out of a deep sense of duty, patriotism, and love for the ideals on which our country was founded: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. It is because of them that we enjoy the freedoms we often take for granted today.” Said by Terry Keizer
We must never forget that freedom is not free. Every flag, every grave, every tear shed on Memorial Day is a powerful reminder of the price that has been paid. Honoring the dead helps the living—it unites us in purpose and gratitude, and it ensures that the sacrifices made are not forgotten. As the motto of the Veterans of Foreign Wars reminds us, we honor the dead by helping the living.
As Dana Becker so powerfully said during the service, “To say their name gives them remembrance—not in vain, not in our great country, and not on our watch.”
That single sentence carried the weight of generations and served as a reminder that remembrance is an act of love, of legacy, and of national duty. For me, this day hits especially close to home. My grandfather was a Vietnam veteran, and I carry his memory with pride and reverence. He, like so many others, served with courage and conviction, and his legacy inspires me to ensure that this tradition of remembrance continues.
In the words of President Lincoln, from his Gettysburg Address: “It is for us the living to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced... that these dead shall not have died in vain.”
So, to all who braved the rain and gathered to honor our fallen—thank you. Your presence spoke louder than any speech could. It said: We remember. We are grateful. And we will never forget.
Photo by Lakota McRoberts
Dana Becker followed the march with powerful words of remembrance, and Mike Carnahan offered a moving prayer.
