The Clipper City Chordsmen sang the National Anthem during Manitowoc’s Observance and celebration of Memorial Day in front of a huge gathering at the County Veterans Memorial across from Evergreen Cemetery.
Mayor Justin Nickels was thankful to see such a large turnout to honor our front-line heroes.
“It’s great that we can finally be here together most importantly to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice,” he said. “Thank you to all who have served but today we remember the hundreds of names who are behind me here who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.”
Manitowoc County Executive Bob Ziegelbauer said that “we should never take the meaning of Memorial Day for granted. Many succeeding generations are tempted to take our freedom for granted. These veterans answered your country’s call years ago. Those sacrifices we commemorate today traveled to places you’ve never heard of and suffered in ways too numerous to mention so we all can enjoy this gift of freedom.”
25th Assembly District Representative Paul Tittl says despite being scared, the brave men and women whose names adorn the stones at the Veteran’s Memorial answered the call God had for their lives.
“The Bible says in John 15:13 that greater love has more than this that one would lay down their life for their friends,” Tittl said. “We thank you for your service. If you’ve lost a loved one even recently who served we are thankful for that loved one’s sacrifice.”
Manitowoc County Veterans Service Officer Todd Brehmer put Memorial Day into proper perspective.
“As we take time today to pay tribute and honor those men and women who are no longer with us please take a moment to silently and solemnly say thank you,” Brehmer told the crowd. “Enjoy the day as a national holiday but also those who sacrificed their lives to make sure you still have the freedom and ability to enjoy the day how you so choose.”
BJ Prior, who was a stewardess who accompanied over 70,000 soldiers on flights to Vietnam, also was given time to speak.
“We take time on this Memorial Day to remember the 1.2 million soldiers along with those who served and later died as a result of their service,” she said. “They went and did their job and did an excellent job. No soldier should ever be forgotten.”
Master of Ceremonies was Mike Dempske and Musical selections were provided by the Manitowoc Marine Band.
