Joining the many community members at the Monday, May 27, 2013 Memorial Day ceremony on the Cook County courthouse lawn were these local Cub Scouts (L-R) Preston Benedix, Caleb Benedix, Jonah Schmidt, Brayden Schmidt, and Ethan Tate. The young scouts gave a respectful salute to veterans.
As 11 a.m. neared on Monday, May 27, a diverse crowd gathered around the lawn of the Cook County courthouse in Grand Marais for a Memorial Day service. There were veterans proudly wearing baseball caps designating their branch of service or the conflict in which they served, some leaning on canes or in wheelchairs. There were tearful family members. There were teens on bicycles and leather-jacketed motorcyclists at the curb. There were toddlers in strollers and young couples holding hands. There were several Cub Scouts in uniform.
There was the buzz of quiet conversation between friends greeting one another until the American Legion Post 413 Honor Guard took its position. A respectful hush fell as Post Commander Don Wilson welcomed the audience and Pastor Kris Garey of Trinity Lutheran Church gave a heartfelt invocation.
Karina Roth sang a beautiful traditional rendition of the national anthem. Richard Fortunato of the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol played a stirring piece on the bagpipes.
The American Legion Post 413 Honor Guard carried the colors and fired a salute in the May 27, 2013 Memorial Day ceremony at the Cook County courthouse. A large crowd turned out to hear the roll call of names of veterans who have died in the last year. The ceremony is a wonderful tribute to all veterans.
Commander Wilson gave a brief speech, noting the importance of the day and the meaning of the hundreds of flags at the cemeteries in Cook County. He said at the Maple Hill Cemetery and the Catholic Cemetery east of town lie graves of Civil War veterans. He said sadly there are no more living World War I veterans and the number of World War II veterans is growing smaller every day. Veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars are becoming the veteran leaders of today, said Wilson.
“It is said that every generation has its war,” said Commander Wilson. And unfortunately, he said, we have more and more veterans in our nation. Veterans not of a specific war, but of the global War on Terrorism. Wilson encouraged everyone to remember those who have died and to support and care for today’s veterans.
Wilson then read the names of veterans with ties to Cook County who died in the last year, each name honored with the solemn tolling of a bell. As the sound of the bell faded, Fortunato played Amazing Grace.
Pastor Garey offered a simple prayer for the end of war, for peace for all.
The stirring ceremony ended with Cook County High School students Libby Zafft and Owen Anderson playing Taps, one on each corner of the courthouse lawn, echoing one another and reminding all of the very special meaning of the day.
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