Posted on 05/29/2005 8:31:49 PM PDT by SandRat
SIERRA VISTA - America's fallen heroes will be remembered Monday at Memorial Day services in Sierra Vista and Bisbee.
Fort Huachuca will hold its annual ceremony at the post cemetery at 11.30 a.m.
The event will pay tribute to the U.S. military's fallen comrades from past and present conflicts.
"Fort Huachuca will remember the brave service members who sacrificed their lives in World Wars I and II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Desert Shield/Desert Storm and Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom," said Grant Nulle, a Fort Huachuca public affairs spokesman.
Maj. Gen. Barbara G. Fast, commander of the U.S. Army Intelligence Center and Fort Huachuca, will speak at the event.
The Widowed Support Center, Gold Star Wives and the Society of Military Widows will place wreaths on a display dedicated to fallen service members. Francis H.J. MacDonnell, of Veterans of Foreign War Post #9972, will read VFW General Order #11.
The 36th Army Band will provide music and the Fort Huachuca Select Honor Guard will perform the ceremonial salute. The ceremony is open to the public.
Due to limited parking at the cemetery, attendees are requested to park in the two marked parking lots on Christy and Butler avenues and use the shuttle bus to get to the event.
Disabled parking is available at the cemetery and there will also be a golf cart shuttle for attendees with limited mobility.
The public is also invited to participate in a candlelight and wreath laying ceremony at the Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
The service will begin at 6.30 p.m. at the cemetery on 1300 Buffalo Soldier Trail in Sierra Vista.
Administrator Terry Nuti said the ceremony will include a bagpiper and a performance by the Cochise Chordsmen, a barber shop quartet.
"This is the third year we have done this and we normally get around 150 people attending," Nuti said. "This year's keynote speaker will be Dr. Randy Groth, the civilian aid to the secretary of the Army. Mayor Tom Hessler will also be there."
Each audience member will be given a candle, to be lit at dusk, which they will be asked to hold in the air during a minute of silence, before blowing them out.
The ceremony will end with the laying of a wreath.
Earlier in the day, a service will take place in Bisbee at 8 a.m. at the Memory Gardens on Highway 92.
This will be followed two and a half hours later by a ceremony at Evergreen Cemetery in Lowell.
Both events have been organized by Frank Martinez, commander of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars.
"There are veterans buried at both cemeteries, which is why we have two services," he said. "Both are open to the public and we are hoping some representatives from Fort Huachuca will be at the 10:30 a.m. service to show their support. There will also be members of the Border Patrol there.
"We had a really good turn out last year, and hope it will be the same on Monday."
Coming up tomorrow Memorial Day to Ft. Huachuca, Arizona.
Fort Huachuca will hold its annual ceremony at the post cemetery at 11.30 a.m.
The event will pay tribute to the U.S. military's fallen comrades from past and present conflicts.
Honor our fallen Heroes ~ Bump!
Lest We Forget!
AAR of the 11:30 service. Sorry no photos.
Nestled at the fifty-one hundred foot level in the foothills of the Huachuca Mountains at the fort shaded by Arizona Oaks and Pinion Pines, the fallen of all wars were honored in a Memorial Day Ceremony. Warmed by a bright sun and kissed by a light breeze perfumed by the sweet smell of the oaks and pines, 600 members of the community gathered to remember and pay their respect. Lead by a mixed color gourd of active serving soldiers, sailors and marines with uniformed members of the Veteran of Foreign Wars, wreathes were laid at the centerpiece memorial of the cemetery. The mood was gentle as veterans from World War II forward; US, British, Australian, German all saluted their fallen brothers. The cannon boomed 21 times, three volleys of a seven-man guard rang out, and off in the distance the notes of Taps drifted across the field. When this was done the soft strains of songs long past wars was played by the 35th Army band as those present walked about in quiet conversation gave personal remembrance to individuals known and unknown resting there.
Thanks for the ping!
Honoring our fallen Heroes ~ Bump!
Lest We Forget!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.