Memorial Day

On Monday, Americans celebrated Memorial Day, an occasion to honor the soldiers who’ve died in service, recognize the living, and remember the sacrifice of all who serve our country. Community members gathered for those purposes at services held at the Clarion-Goldfield-Dows High School at 10 a.m.

Lt. Colonel Steve Nichols, a service member since 1977 who has been deployed three times for Operation Iraqi Freedom, was the chief speaker for the event. He particularly recalled two friends who had died in the course of their service: Major Stuart Anderson of Dubuque, Iowa, who died in a helicopter crash in Iraq, and Major John Gaffaney, who was killed in the Ft. Hood shootings on November 5, 2009.

“Just like so many men and women in the Clarion area, both Stuart and John heard the call,” Nichols said.

Pastor Warren Curry was also a speaker at the service. He drew a connection between local and national memorials and the grave stones that mark fallen soldiers to biblical stones of remembrance. “We don’t want to forget. That’s what memorials do, they help us to remember,” he said. “When our children ask us what these stones mean, let us tell them what it’s about.”

For photos of the Memorial Day service, see the June 2 edition of the Monitor.