Memorial Day 2022

Local Memorial Day prog

rams were enjoyed by several public observers despite 35 mph winds that swept through the region Monday.

“It took two of us to hold down the podium at Calvary Cemetery,” said Gary O’Daniels, VFW Post 1797 commander.

O’Daniels and Tom Hawks of VFW read names of fallen heroes whose graves are located in Calvary and Graceland cemeteries during a new approach to the annual ceremonies. Later, O’Daniels and Tim Kenyon played “Taps” during “Taps Across America,” the 3 p.m. nationwide playing of the bugle call that is played during flag ceremonies and military funerals by the United States Armed Forces.

That program took place next to the Union County Freedom Rock at the Visitors Center on New York Avenue. Standing at attention near the rock as a small crowd observed Kenyon and O’Daniels playing the song was Lance Cpl. Kenneth Weaselhead, Diagonal native who just finished five years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps.

During the morning cemetery programs, names of fallen heroes with local roots were read by O’Daniels and Hawks, along with details of their military history. This format has been presented the past two years, as opposed to featured speakers who often touched on themes related to military heroes.

“It was getting harder to find guest speakers,” O’Daniels explained. “There are a lot of Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and in one of those there was an article about a similar program done back east that was very well-received. So, we thought we’d try that here. We solicited information on veterans and we were able to get military records at the courthouse for the veterans we chose for this year’s program.”

Tim and Skip Kenyon played the national anthem and “Taps” that preceded a rifle salute by VFW Post 1797 Honor Guard.

Invocation and benediction at each of the ceremonies was led by the Rev. Adam Westphal of Holy Spirit Catholic Church at Calvary; and the Rev. Evan McVann of Salem Lutheran Church at Graceland.

O’Daniels and Hawks read about the following veterans at this year’s ceremony. Those honored at Calvary Cemetery were:

• Theodore J. Martens. The local VFW Post 1797 is named in Martens’ honor. He served with Company “M” 20th Regiment of the U.S. Army during the Spanish-American War. It was the first major land campaign fought outside the western hemisphere. Martens became the first deceased veteran of foreign wars buried in Union County.

• William Raymond Walters, World War I veteran. He served in the Philippines with Det. 1573 of the 4th Company, U.S. Army.

• Richard Francis Murphy, U.S. Army in World War I.

• Richard Francis Murphy, U.S. Army in World War II.

• George Booth Hicks, Civil War veteran who served with Company C, 9th West Virginia infantry. He came to Creston in 1974 and was city assessor for 10 years.

• John Arthur Duggan and Ambrose Edward Duggan, brothers who served in World War I with the U.S. Army. John Duggan died of injuries serviced in the service on March 16, 1919.

• Joseph William Donahue, U.S. Army in World War II. He was inducted on May 7, 1941, exactly seven months prior to the Pearl Harbor attack.

• Edward Thomas Harvey Jr., U.S. Air Force in the Korean War.

• Albert Peter Bradley, pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II.

• William James Walsh, U.S. Army in World War I.

• Cletus E. Kelley, U.S. Army in World War I.

• John Edward Donahue, U.S. Navy in the Korean War.

• John Arthur Kelley, U.S. Navy in the Korean War.

• Claude Leon Lamb Jr., U.S. Marine Corps in the Korean War.

• Merritt Earl Link, U.S. Army in the Korean War.

• Tharon Daniel Reed, U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II.

• John B. Justice, U.S. Army in World War II.

• Clyde Wendeline Miller, Airman in Maintron Strategic Air Command in the Korean War.

• Thomas Edward Loudon, U.S. Navy in the Korean War.

• Leroy James McKee, U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II.

• Roger Riggs McIntire, U.S. Army deployed to United Kingdom in early 1944 in preparation for the invasion of France. During landing at Utah Beach on July 28, 1944, Lt. McIntire became the first war fatality among service personnel from Kent.

Those honored at Graceland Cemtery were:

• Jerome Miller, 51st Regiment with Iowa Infantry Volunteers, 1898-1899.

• Cecil Otto Abel, U.S. Navy during World War II.

• Larry Cecil Antisdel, U.S. Army at the Artillary & Guided MIssile Center in Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

• Clarke E. Boden, U.S. Marine Corps duirng World War II.

• Cecil Borcherding, U.S. Army during World War II.

• Richard Raymond Buck, U.S. Navy during World War II.

• Donald Albert Burich, U.S. Army during the Korean War.

• Wilbur Chubick, U.S. Navy during the Korean War.

• Robert D. Dunn, U.S. Navy during the Korean War.

• Arthur Genners, U.S. Army during World War II.

• Arthur Wayne Green, U.S. Army during World War II.

• William C. Hixinbaugh, U.S. Navy during World War II.

• Bob Hudek, U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.

• Harry Sam Ketchum, U.S. Army during World War II.

• Richard Leroy Kuhns, U.S. Navy during the Korean War.

• Warren B. Leonard, U.S. Army Air Corps during World War I.

• Rex McFee, U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War.

• Leo K. Mullison, U.S. Army during World War I.

• Harry Max O’Brien, U.S. Marine Corps during World War II.

• William Junior Page, U.S. Army during World War II.

• William Russell Pryor, U.S. Army during World War II.

• William Douglas Ray, U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War.

• Richard L. Selim, U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War.

• Bernie Edwin Sevier, U.S. Army during World War II.

• C. Leroy West, U.S. Army during World War II.

• Wilber Boss Walker, U.S. Navy flyer attached to the Atlantic Fleet from 1942 to 1944.

• Benjamin E. Wirth, U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War.

• Sydney F. Genners, U.S. Army during World War II.