TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
On Monday, May 30, 2022, a crowd of Merrill residents gathered in the Veterans Section of St. Francis Cemetery off of Theilman St. in Merrill to pay tribute to those American soldiers who lost their lives in war fighting for our country – men and women, young and old. Merrill VFW Post 1638, along with the VFW Post 1638 Auxiliary, the Honor Guard, and area Scout Troops participated.
Post Commander Arnold “Vic” Viljevac commented that he was happy to see the turnout and the support from the Merrill community, especially in light of the recent news that some communities in our country and in Wisconsin had canceled their Memorial Day ceremonies, including in Milwaukee, where officials permanently canceled the Memorial Day Parade, citing lack of support and enthusiasm, lack of volunteers, and rising costs.
“Memorial Day is a special holiday to solemnly remember and pay tribute to the brave fallen who have secured the prosperity and liberty that we enjoy today,” Viljevac said. “That is why we are gathered here on Memorial Day, to honor the memory of fallen military warriors who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country in the war of our nation, a day to honor the hundreds from Lincoln County, tens of thousands from Wisconsin, in addition to well over a million men and women from across America who have given their life for this country.”
Jeremy Scott gave the opening prayer: “Father of us all, in the depth of our silent reverence, we realize the truth of the inspired words: I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. As comrade after comrade departs, we march on with our ranks grown thinner. Help us to be faithful onto thee and to one another. Look in mercy on the surviving spouses and children of our departed comrades, we beseech thee, and with thine own tenderness, console and comfort those who are bereaved. Heavenly Father, bless our country with freedom, peace, and righteousness. Through thy favor, may we meet at last before thy throne in heaven. We praise thy great name, forever and ever. Amen.”
A representative of the Post 1638 Auxiliary rang a bell 11 times, commemorating the end of the Great War, World War I, at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. Sadly, it was not to be the last world war.
Amy Peterson sang the National Anthem and invited those gathered to join her.
“Let us remember and honor all the veterans that have gone before us,” Viljevac said. Members of the Post 1638 Auxiliary provided the wreaths and, escorted by members of Cub Scout Pack 503, Boy Scout Troop 503, and Girl Scout Troop 7118, processed for the ceremonial laying of the Memorial wreaths.
Paul Russell, retired Colonel with 31 years in the military and a member of the VFW Post 1638 was the keynote speaker.
“It is especially humbling to stand here to remember the many American heroes we honor this special day,” Russell said. “To stand before you on this day of remembrance, this day of honor and gratitude and to try to say something worthy of Memorial Day’s solemn occasion is truly humbling. For this is a day that we remember, honor, and give thanks to all those who answered their nation’s call and fell in battle. Their numbers are staggering. More than a million Americans in uniform have died for our nation and for generations of people they would never know. Let this day serve as proof that we have not forgotten that promise that we will never forget.”
Russell shared the stories of two veterans from our area who gave their lives in service to our country. One was Robert “Jug” Russell, his own uncle, who died November 11, 1944, when his plane was shot down. He was never heard from again.
“Let us honor the memory of our sons and daughters, husbands and fathers, and brothers and sisters who lost their lives in service to America,” Russell said. “As we remember the sacrifice of those who have given their lives, let us never forget the meaning of Memorial Day. We must ensure the memories of all our fallen comrades live on. Thank you for remembering these sons and daughters of America, those who made the ultimate sacrifice in a world where freedom is not, and never has been, free.”
“I’d like to close by taking a moment to honor the thousands of Americans serving overseas that are in harms way as we speak, and I’d like to pay tribute to the thousands more who gave their lives in defense of this great nation and cannot be here today to share this day with us.”
Following a period of silence by all in attendance, Russell spoke again: “God bless America and all those who defend her, and God bless our fallen heroes.”
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, closing prayers led by the President of the Post 1638 Auxiliary and Auxiliary Chaplain, the Honor Guard presented a gun salute, and a lone bugler played taps.
“Today is one of those special days where your heart is full of thanks, sorrow, and patriotism, and all the other range of emotions we feel as Americans,” Russell said. “Thomas Jefferson famously said, ‘The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.’ And his words could not ring more true than today. Generation after generation of Americans have had to continuously refresh the tree of liberty with their own blood and that of tyrants, because that is the price of freedom. We must never forget their legacy, and we owe it to our war dead to live lives every day that are worthy of their sacrifices. Cherish the gift you’ve been given, and take advantage of the freedom they have won for you, to live the life that they could only dream about. Thank you to all for giving up a part of your day to help us remember the fallen heroes of Merrill, Lincoln County, Wisconsin, and the United States of America.”
Attendees were invited to a luncheon at the Northwoods Veterans Post following the ceremony.
Editor’s Postscript: In addition to the families of fallen soldiers, Memorial Day can be heartwrenching for other soldiers. Many/most of those who served in wartime, though they may have returned home alive, saw their fellow soldiers and comrades die, often right before their eyes. The horror, trauma, sorrow, and sometimes survivor guilt they endure is also something they relive, often every day. It may be brought to the forefront even more on Memorial Day.