As they always do, American Legion Post 413 members took time out of their Memorial Day weekend to honor their comrades at a ceremony on the Cook County courthouse lawn. Above left: Cook County High School band member Shelby Ahrendt echoed the notes of Taps played by fellow bugler Lars Scannell. Above right: Grand Marais Mayor Sue Hakes thanked veterans and urged those in attendance to become better citizens. She said, “Let’s support our veterans through action.”
Over 100 people gathered at the Cook County courthouse on Monday, May 31, 2010 to observe Memorial Day. American Legion Post 413 Commander Don Wilson welcomed the crowd and asked Pastor Kris Garey of Trinity Lutheran Church to offer a prayer. Irene Thompson then sang the National
Anthem.
Grand Marais Mayor Sue Hakes spoke briefly, thanking the veterans in attendance for their service and remembering those who had given their lives. Hakes spoke of the ways people enjoy a long holiday weekend like Memorial Day, but stressed that we are able to enjoy these pleasures because of the service men and women who gave their lives so that we may be free. Hakes remembered her loved ones who served and expressed gratitude to them and to all the others who made “profound sacrifices.”
She asked the crowd how we can best show our gratitude to our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, National Guardsmen, and Coast Guard who died in service or are serving now. “How can we say thank you in the most meaningful way possible?”
Hakes said we could say thank you by observing Memorial Day in ceremonies like this one. She added, “But is that alone enough? Or can we take action to express our gratitude by becoming better citizens? I believe we are remiss in our responsibility if we don’t take care of what has been so honorably given to and protected for us. We are remiss in our responsibility if we don’t take care of each other, our towns, our environment, and our lifestyle.”
Hakes said one way to show our gratitude is by becoming better citizens and by volunteering in the community. She said everyone has different gifts and is able to give back uniquely. “So let’s encourage and help each other to be the best teachers, carpenters, nurses and doctors, city workers, masons, shopkeepers, secretaries, students, friends, and parents that we can be. Let’s encourage each other to give blood, donate or raise money for good causes, and pray for peace. Let’s become firefighters, EMTs, mentors, hospice workers, and good neighbors. Let’s renew our pledge to aid the widows, widowers, and children of our fallen and disabled veterans. Let’s reach out to those husbands, wives, and children of those serving at home and abroad today. Let’s support our veterans through action.”
The American Legion Post 413 Honor Guard then fired a salute. Serving on the Honor Guard were James Ford, Orvis Lunke, David Asproth, Dan Ansello, Jim Anderson, Stan Pelto, and Floyd Johnson.
Commander Wilson then read the list of names of veterans from Cook County or with a strong tie to the county who died since the last Memorial Day. After each veteran’s name, he rang a large bell and the solemn sound carried across the lawn.
The American Legion Auxiliary placed a lovely wreath on the Veteran’s Memorial, and Border Patrol officer and bagpiper Rich Fortunato, with the large courthouse flag at half-mast behind him, played Amazing Grace.
As the bagpipe song ended, Cook County High School band members Shelby Arndt and Lars Scannell played Taps,
one on each side of the crowd, repeating the melancholy notes.
Pastor Garey gave a final prayer. “As the echoes of Taps
slide across the face of your earth, oh Lord, let us pray—for peace, among nations and among men. Defend and strengthen our military; grant them a sense of your abiding peace.”
Commander Wilson thanked his Legion Honor Guard, the Auxiliary, Rich Fortunato, and the young buglers. He invited everyone to gather at the American Legion Post. The Auxiliary served lunch—free to the 45 veterans served—and the community paused to spend a little time with our veterans. And to say thank you.
Ceremony changed because of rain garden
The Memorial Day observance was marred for some attendees who felt that the rain garden constructed to filter parking lot runoff last fall unnecessarily disturbed the Veteran’s Memorial grounds.
Post Commander Don Wilson opened the ceremony by asking, “Can you hear me? I’m talking across a beaver pond here.”
Wilson suggested that anyone unhappy with the construction of the rain garden, which abuts the flags making a half-circle around the old and new Veteran’s memorials, contact his or her county commissioner and ask that the rain garden be removed.
“It’s ugly and unnecessary,” said Wilson, to a round of applause.
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