News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Members of the Sisters community gathered at Camp Polk Cemetery on Monday, May 27, to pay tribute to the men and women who have fallen in the service of their country.
This year's service was particularly poignant given that the country is again at war in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11.
Pastor Larry Harrelson, who offered the opening prayer, remembered the victims of those attacks, along with the personnel who have been killed in subsequent anti-terrorist operations around the globe.
Master of Ceremonies George Winterfeld revived an old tradition by presenting Blue Star Banners to local parents of service men.
Jan and Bob Martin's son David is serving in the U.S. Army, as is Susan Bird's son John. Martha Lee's son Ken Crain is serving in the U.S. Air Force. Each recieved a banner.
Blue Star Banners were placed in windows of service families during World War II. The practice had faded away in subsequent conflicts and was revived by veterans organizations in the face of the current struggle.
There was an emotional moment as Winterfeld noted that there is also a Gold Star banner.
"That's one we hope we never have to present," he said, pausing for a long moment, his voice choked. "That's when someone doesn't come home."
This year's ceremony was marked by the absence of Phil Chlopek, who died suddenly earlier this month.
Chlopek was instrumental in starting the now 10-year-old tradition of Memorial Day observance in Sisters and he customarily served as Master of Ceremonies.
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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