We Shall Remember
Every year at our annual reunion and memorial banquet, we gather to honor and pay tribute to those who have sacrificed so much so that we might enjoy our cherished freedoms, precious liberties, and national sovereignty. We remember them and their families. We acknowledge their many sacrifices: All gave some and some gave all!
This solemn time of remembrance includes all who have honorably served our great nation as members of the Armed Forces, those currently serving and those in harm’s way, our civil servants, independent contractors, and especially, those missing from our ranks -our POWs and MIAs.
At the center of our ceremony is a small table set for one. On the white table cloth is placed a solitary plate with a slice of lemon and pinch of salt, a single red rose in a vase tied with a red ribbon, and a Bible, a candle, and an inverted glass. During this rather sacred ceremony, each item and what it symbolizes is described and explained to those gathered.
For those present, it is a deeply sacred and solemn ceremony as we remember our soldiers and families. And, we also acknowledge, honor, and memorialize those “Eagles who have Soared” since we last met: Those who have gone before us and are no longer with us. The ceremony concludes with reading the names of those who are no longer with us. “We remember …” and in our remembrances no one is left behind!
Come join with us as we gather to remember our soldiers and families at our next annual reunion and memorial banquet!
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Ceremony
Those who have served and those currently serving the United States of America as members of the uniformed services, as civil servants, and as contractors are ever mindful that the sweetness of enduring peace has always been tainted by the bitterness of personal sacrifice. We are compelled to never forget that while we enjoy our daily pleasures, there are others who have endured and may still be enduring the agonies of pain, deprivation, and internment.
Before we begin our activities this evening, we will pause to recognize our POW's and MIA's.
We call your attention to this small table, which occupies a place of dignity and honor. It is set for one, symbolizing the fact that some are missing from our ranks.
They are referred to as POW's and MIA's. We call them comrades.
They are unable to be with their loved ones and families tonight, so we join together to pay our humble tribute to them, and bear witness to their continued absence.
This table, set for one, is small, symbolizing the frailty of one prisoner, alone against his or her suppressors.
The tablecloth is white, symbolic of the purity of their intentions to respond to their country's call to arms.
The single red rose in the vase, signifies the blood that many have shed in sacrifice to ensure the freedom of our beloved United States of America. This rose also reminds us of the family and friends of our missing comrades who keep the faith, while awaiting their return.
The vase is tied with a red ribbon, symbol of our continued determination to account for our missing.
A slice of lemon on the plate is to remind us of the bitter fate of those captured and missing in a foreign land.
A pinch of salt on the plate symbolizes the countless fallen tears of families as they wait.
The Bible represents the strength gained through faith to sustain those lost from our country, founded as one nation under God.
The candle is reminiscent of the light of hope, which lives in our hearts to illuminate their way home, away from their captors, to the open arms of a grateful nation.
The glass is inverted — they cannot toast with us this night.
The chair is empty — they are not here.
Let us pray to our Heavenly Father that all of our comrades will soon be back within our ranks. Let us remember and never forget their sacrifices.
May God forever watch over them and protect them and their families.
Deceased Members
- Ralph S. Bennett, Hq. Co. 3/506 P.I.R.
- George L. Walker, Hq Btry. 463rd P.F.A.B.
- Albert (AL) Lalonek, A Btry. 321'
- Glider Field Artillery Battalion
- Redderick Harris, E Co. 2/501 P.I.R.
- Wendell Smith, Svc. Co. 326 Eng. Bn
- Sam Jordan, Hq&Hq Btry., 321' GFAB, WWII
- Leonard Schmidt, HQ, 3/506th P.I.R. WWII
- Willis F. Rohr A Co. 1/327 G.I.R. WWII
- Ralph Pruitt, B Co. 2/187 ABG Fort Campbell, KY
- Harvey Peters, HQ 1/506th P.I.R. WWII
- Ray "Pappy" Norris, HQ 1/501' P.I.R. WWII
- Albert J. McKay, C Btry 377th PFAB WWII
- Charles J. Murz, HQ 1/502nd P.I.R. WWII
- Robert J. Martin, H Co. 31506th P.I.R. WWII
- Charles Carlsen, Service Co. 501' P.I.R. WWII
- Milton Walker, 82nd Airborne Division WWII
- Robert C. Dunning, HQ 31506th P.I.R. WWII
- Keith V. Organ, E Co. 2/502" P.I.R. WWII
- Barney P. Momcilovic, E. Co. 2/501' P.I.R.
- Lawrence Novak E Btry, 81' AA Battalion WWII
- John Wielkopolan, G Co. 3/502" P.I.R. WWII
- Clarence Theaker, HQ Divarty, WWII
- William (Bill) Frank, 327th Abn. Inf. B11.
- Fred Bahlau, G Co. 506th P.I.R. WWII
- Paul L. Bielski, 506th P.I.R., Col Sink's radio operator and driver, also 506th Regimental Band
- Ellis 0. Fitzwater, 326th Airborne (Combat) Engineers, Golden Knights Parachute Demonstration Team, US Army
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- Joseph Beryle I, I Co. 31506th P.I.R. WWII
- Burt D. Ellard, F Co. 2/502nd P.I.R. WWII
- Burt D. Ellard Jr, 82" Airborne Division, Vietnam
- George Rosie, HQ 3/506 P.I.R. WWII
- George Koskimaki, Signal Co., 101' Abn. Div., WWII
- Russell Layton, A Co, 501' P.I.R. WWII
- Frank Dolsen, (Honorary) 8th Army Air Corp., WWII, POW in Stalag #17 Germany
- G.William Sefton, HQ 2/501' P.I.R. WWII
- Calvin C. Dixon, A Co. 1/502" P.I.R. WWII
- Kenneth A. Hagenbuch, B Btry 81' AA Battalion, WWII
- Allen Steiber, 11327th ABG, Fort Campbell, KY
- Robert E. Reeves, D Co. 11506th P.I.R. WWII
- Quentin Waite, Merrill's Mauraders, WWII (Honorary)
- Ralph Mayville, First Special Service Force, WWII (Honorary)
- Donald R. Burgett, A /1/506th P.I.R. WWII
- Daniel Cochran, A/3/187 INF, Vietnam
- Wayne Hillman (Canadian) 101" Vietnam
- Jerry Wright 17th Airborne Division WWII
- Arno Whitbread Hq CO 327th G.I.R. WWII
- Calvin Hanawalt, llth Airborne Division WWII
- Guadalupe J. Flores, Hq Co., 501" P.I.R. WWII
- Robert (Bob) Bakowski, 1st Cavalry (Abn) Division, Vietnam
- Donald B. Straith, Co.A, 1st 506th P.1. R. WWII
- Robert S. Likam, Co C, 326 (Abn) Engineers WWII
- Janice Novak Admin Asssistant
- Father Lawrence Novak, 8Ist AA (Airborne) Battalion WWII
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