Former U.S. Air Force member and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6974 Chaplain Mike Janto arrived first for the annual Memorial Day commemorative service in Burnet at the Post Mountain Cemetery, 321 Southland
Drive.
“We have been performing honors here for many years,” Janto told the Bulletin May 25. “It is for our fallen comrades. It is very meaningful to us.”
As the sun rose over the cemetery, American Legion Post 974 members, more former military service members and civilians arrived with family and friends who joined the service.
The Post Mountain assembly included U.S. Navy veteran Charlie Dotson. He served aboard the USS Midway aircraft carrier in 1968 during the Vietnam War.
Four of his former shipmates “are on the wall,” he said.
Dotson referred to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington; basically two adjoining walls of black granite embedded with the names of all American combatants who died or who remain listed as missing in action because of the war.
He and surviving Midway crew members “try to keep in touch,” Dotson said.
Soon after VFW Post Commander Sean Jones led the gathering with comment, prayer and
Giving Honors ... Page 3 the playing of the Taps bugle call, the crowd strolled through the cemetery to plant American flags near headstones marking the graves of military veterans.
Indeed, retired U.S. Marine Corps Colonel Duane Opperman and his wife Linda planted several hand-size flags bearing the Stars and Stripes, including one at the grave of Morris Ray Palmer, U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class.
“I hope the younger generation remembers these people,” Opperman said.
As Memorial Day continued, more American Legion and VFW members convened at a second event in Burnet at the City Cemetery, 600 Cemetery Street, to pay respects to deceased veterans.
Former Navy sailor Matt Adams directed former Army soldiers Eric Crabtree and Darran Proctor as they fired rifle shots into the air to salute gone but not forgotten heroes.
“This day is sacred,” former Marine Monte Andrews told attendees. “We honor those who gave their lives for our country.”
Also at City Cemetery, Lynn Winkler placed a wreath near the headstone of Patrick M. Goble, the 19-year-old Marine killed by an enemy sniper more than 50 years ago in Vietnam.
Two hours later, more American Legion and VFW members, family and friends arrived in Burnet at the VFW Hall, 1402 Buchanan to conduct a “flag retirement.”
Just after noon, the group contributed dozens of worn-out American flags “no longer suitable for public display to be retired with the dignity and respect they deserve,” Nelson said.
After a moment of silence, brief prayer and recitation of the pledge of allegiance, the flag retirement got underway.
As per the U.S. Flag code, people dropped several old remnants of Old Glory into a safe fire pit and saluted the blaze as flames consumed each flag.
