Community members gathered for a Memorial Day ceremony on the Cook County courthouse lawn on Monday, May 28 to remember America’s veterans and to note the service of veterans from Cook County who have passed away over the last year.
With the flags at half mast and the fog drifting lazily across the lawn like friendly ghosts left over from an early morning storm, Cook County’s veterans, family, friends and patriots gathered on the lawn of the Cook County courthouse to remember America’s veterans and note the service of veterans from Cook County who have passed away over the last year.
American Legion Post 413 Commander Don Wilson welcomed the crowd, and then led them in the Pledge of Allegiance. Talented vocalist Liz Hall, who works at the American Legion, did a great job singing the National Anthem and Pastor Kris Garey gave a solemn, beautiful invocation. In the mist, standing in the background, Rich Fortunato played a haunting, heartfelt Amazing Grace on the bagpipes.
The Post 413 color guard was there in full uniform bearing flags and arms. They were joined by some members of Grand Portage Post 2009. The American Legion Auxiliary stood at attention in their blue and white uniforms. A three-gun salute was conducted and Taps was played as the American flag was raised and a wreath laid on the granite Veterans Memorial: solemn remembrances of war and the warriors who fought to protect our freedom.
Members of the Grand Portage American Legion Post 2009 and American Legion Post 413 in Grand Marais took part in the ceremony. The Post 413 color guard was (L-R) Jim Anderson, Ron Wilson, Stan Pelto, and Daniel Ansello.
Wilson dedicated the ceremony to Peter “Floyd” Johnson and Glen “Bobby” Leonard, two veterans who contributed greatly to American Legion Post 413. Both Leonard and Johnson passed away this last year.
Of Johnson, Wilson said he knew Floyd all of his life but didn’t know his real name was Peter. “We always called him Floyd.” Wilson said he knew him first as the milkman who delivered milk to his doorstep on Maple Hill when he was a boy and then as an oil man when he delivered fuel oil for his own business, and then as a partner in Wrecking J’s with his son, Tim.
“Floyd loved working with Tim, loved working at Wrecking J’s. He died on the job dong what he loved,” Wilson said.
Above: Post 413 Commander Don Wilson read the names of the members of the Armed Forces with Cook County ties who have died over the last year. Each name was marked with the ringing of a bell. Right: Liz Hall of Grand Marais sang the National Anthem beautifully.
“Bobby,” said Wilson, “was in the million mile club for truckers. He drove over a million miles without an accident. Can you imagine driving a million miles up and down Highway 61? I can’t,” said Wilson.
Wilson then read the names of members of the Armed Forces with Cook County ties who have died over the last year. As he read each name he struck a bell, letting the sound drift hauntingly across the lawn before reading another name. When he was done Garey said a prayer of thanks for the service of veterans and Wilson ended the ceremony by inviting the crowd to the American Legion for lunch.
Many in the crowd lingered awhile at the end, talking quietly. One young mother took her daughters to the memorial and read the inscription slowly to them, pointing to each word with emphasis as she read it.
The soldiers who have given everything to their country would have liked that, would have appreciated the mother’s care and concern for their sacrifice, and would have, like Harrison’s soldier, enjoyed the girls playing as they left.
No woman’s whisper
holds your strong heart
spent and breathless.
All the silver horns that
blew while legions
cheered, are still.
These things are done,
But these you have:
a death for a monument,
And peace you died to
buy, and after you
The laughing play of
children in the sun.
Ending to the last stanza of
Kendall Harrison’s 1916 poem,
To a Dead Soldier
After the ceremony, veterans and their friends and families visited on the courthouse lawn. This mother read the words on the Cook County Veterans Memorial and talked to her little girls about the special meaning of the day.
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