Memorial Day is celebrated as the unofficial start of summer with plenty of barbecue grilling, get-together’s and extended weekend trips throughout the area and country for friends and families alike. But this holiday has a much deeper meaning. Memorial Day is a chosen day each year to remember the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country. On this day we take time to remember, and celebrate those who have fallen and for those who have served that are no longer with us. VFW Post 1760 along with other veteran organizations gather at Mesa Cemetery to pay tribute every year to those veterans.
Saturday there was a good turnout by all those involved in finding and placing US Flags at veteran headstones throughout the cemetery. This along with a great turnout this year from our Post members! Along with our Post volunteers, there was volunteers from DAV Chapter 8, American Legion Post 26, the East Valley Young Marines and the ADP participating. Things started at 8, and ended around 10:30am.
Monday the ceremony started at 9am, with this year’s turn to organize and operate the ceremony being American Legion Post 26 with Commander Sid Hagel being the master of ceremonies. In attendance for Post 1760 we had members of our membership, Auxiliary and Veteran Warriors rider group.
The proceedings started with the East Valley Young Marines color guard posting colors followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Thereafter the Invocation by American Legion Post 26’s Chaplain Adam.
This year’s keynote speaker was Bill Montgomery, a West Point Graduate and Maricopa County Attorney who had given a nice speech.
Next was the lying of the wreaths by each organization in attendance. For Post 1760 Commander Jesse Chitwood and Veteran Warriors President Thomas “Roc” Rothchild presented Post 1760’s wreath. This activity was followed by a rifle salute by American Legion Post 26 Honor Guard “Salute the Dead”, and taps being played by Bugles Across America Roger Ellis (and also in attendance Mitzi Ellis).
The ceremony came to a close with the Benediction by American Legion Post 26’s Chaplain Adam and Commander Sid Hagel’s dismissal.
Much Appreciation to the organizations and the public in attendance at this year’s ceremony!
- VFW Post 1760 Membership & Auxiliary
- Disabled American Veterans Chapter 8 & Auxiliary
- American Legion Post 26 & Auxiliary
- Military Order of the Purple Heart 472
- Viet Nam Veterans of America Chapter 1011
- Veteran Warriors Rider Group
To not forget, we want to give a big Thank You for those who collected for Buddy Poppies this holiday; Frank “Gunny” Alger, Sara Hackbirth, Dave Richer, James “Chuckles” Cranston, Anthony WIlliamson, and John Williamson! Also a Big Thank you to Barbara Wilson for spending a larger amount of her time the past 10 months in creating a new Memorial Day wreath for VFW Post 1760!
