A US Army Veteran from Salem who served in the 3rd US Infantry as part of the Old Guard and Escort to the President shared his thoughts on those who lost their lives in service to the country as guest speaker at the Salem Memorial Day Service in East Lawn Cemetery.
Troy Williams said he was honored to participate in ‘Flags In’ at Arlington National Cemetery when a flag was placed at every gravesite.
“I have no words to express the deep gratitude I was feeling as I placed the flag at just the perfect distance. All I could think in a humble approach was a soft whisper ‘thank you for your service’ for I could not fathom what they had done.”
Williams says Memorial Day is the day to remember the extraordinary.
“There are simply five little letters that separates ordinary from extraordinary, E-X-T-R and A. And it is today that we deliberately stop and thank those who gave the extra.”
Williams says he was called upon to organize, supervise and conduct the Joint Guard of Honor during the visitation for 37th President Richard M. Nixon. After 30,000 passed to pay their final respect, Williams and another soldier moved the casket to a staging area in a small room where they were surprised by the appearance of five former presidents who served from 1974 to 2001. He felt the difficulties of Presidents Bill Clinton, George H. Bush, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, and Jimmy Carter in balancing diplomacy and war.
Williams closed by saying we must all be willing to give of ourselves.
“The United States and the freedom for which it stands, the freedom from which they died, must endure and prosper. Their lives remind us that freedom is not bought cheaply, it has a cost. It imposes a burden. And just as they who we commemorate are willing to sacrifice so to must we in at least a less final less heroic way be willing to give of ourselves.”
American Legion Commander Harold Kocher gave the welcome, Auxiliary Chaplin Joyce Lusch the Invocation, Lusch’s granddaughter Allyson Murphy followed with the National Anthem, and Ray Raegan and Junior Miss Marion County Fair Sarah Morris led the Pledge of Allegiance.
After Williams’ address, the Little Egypt Brass played the Armed Services Salute with members of each branch standing to applause. The Wreath Laying Ceremony was conducted by long-time auxiliary members Shirley Hall and Joyce Hahn to recognize those missing in action. The program closed with the 21 gun salute and the playing of TAPS.
The program was sponsored by the Luther B. Easley American Legion Post 128, the Sons of the American Legion, and the American Legion Auxiliary.
Wreath placed at the memorial for the missing soldier.
Little Egypt Brass Band plays the Armed Services Salute as members of each branch of the service are recognized.
Members of the Salem American Legion fire the 21 gun salute before the playing of Taps.
Large crowd gathers for Monday’s Memorial Day Service at East Lawn Cemetery in Salem.
