Community observes Memorial Day

Hats in hand, hands over hearts, members of the Highland County community remembered, honored and celebrated the lives, the sacrifices and the freedoms given by U.S. military members past and present during the annual Memorial Day services Monday, May 31.  

In Hillsboro, the ceremonies began on the lawn of the Highland County Courthouse with music provided by the Hillsboro High School marching band, which included selections of various patriotic songs, military music, and "The Star-Spangled Banner." 

Services were also held in the Greenfield area.

Led in Hillsboro by VFW Post 9094, the Highland County Honor Guard lowered the Highland County Courthouse flag to half-staff, followed by a 21-gun salute. 

A poem was read by VFW auxiliary member Sherry Mills.

The annual Memorial Day Parade began at the courthouse square with VFW members and the band, joined by area Boy Scout Troops, the Hillsboro Police Department, Hillsboro Fire and Rescue, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and other community members and elected officials, and continued up North High Street to the Catholic Cemetery, then to the Hillsboro Cemetery where the official services were held. 

Post Commander Rick Wilkin welcomed the group to the services, saying that the day was in honor of everyone who has defended U.S. soil, those who made it hope and those who have fallen. For military members who died serving their country, Wilkin said, "They are not forgotten. They are accounted for."

Community members spread out among the graves at the Hillsboro Cemetery. Many of the grave sites decorated with flags to honor military service, and Wilkin led the group in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, accompanied by area Boy Scouts. VFW auxiliary member Alberta Duncan and Hillsboro City Council member Mary Brown Turner sang "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "God Bless America," accompanied by the HHS band.

Hillsboro Mayor Dick Zink read a proclamation from the city, saying that "For over two centuries, Americans have defended our nation's security and protected our founding principles of democracy and equal justice under law ... we honor those that paid the ultimate price in defense of these freedoms ... Members of the Armed Forces have placed our nation's safety before their own for generations." 

Lt. Col. Matthew Carran of the U.S. Army was the keynote speaker. Carran, who is originally from Cleveland and now resides in Columbus, quoted Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd president of the United States, who was a Union brigadier general during the Civil War. 

Carran said that Harrison did not believe the flags should be flown at half-staff on Memorial Day, rather they should fly high in celebration of the sacrifices of soldiers, and the freedoms those sacrifices provide. On Memorial Day, which historically was created to honor and decorate the graves of fallen soldiers of the Civil War, should be a day of pride, he said. 

"He felt that the flag should be at its peak on this day," Carran said. "'Because of those whose dying we commemorate we rejoice seeing where their valor placed it.' He thought it was important that we honor them in a joyous, thankful and triumphant commemoration of what they have done."

Carran noted that Memorial Day, formerly Decoration Day, was a memorial to honor Civil War soldiers, but has grown to commemorate veterans of other U.S. wars and conflicts. 

"It's a commemoration of all veterans, of all services ... Today is a very important day, not just for veterans, but also for the families," Carran said. "The families are really the backbone of the veterans of the military. And I know all you veterans out there understand that ... Today is a day for all veterans, Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine and Coast Guard. It's a day for all veterans to celebrate and a day for everyone to look at themselves and find the true meaning of memorial." 

The services concluded with VFW Chaplain Gary Conley saying a benediction, saying "We stand humbly before you, Lord. We thank you for the memories we have, and that we get to share them with one another." The prayer was followed by another 21-gun salute by the Highland County Honor Guard.