Sisters honors fallen in Memorial Day ceremony

A large crowd gathered at the Village Green Park on Monday to honor fallen service men and women in a Memorial Day remembrance service.

Sisters' new Veterans Memorial and flagpole were officially dedicated during the service.

Attendees were greeted and given small flags by the Military Parents of Sisters. The flags were to be placed in the garden alongside the Village Green gazebo at the conclusion of the service.

The Crook County NJROTC presented the colors, the National Anthem was sung and Ed Beacham gave the invocation. John Turner, a member of Sisters VFW Post 8138 gave the welcoming address for the 140th observation of Memorial Day, when we remember the lives of the 1.25 million American service men and women killed in conflicts, from the Revolutionary War to the present wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Turner read the General Order #11, a document that in 1868 proclaimed May 30 to be "...designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country...no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit."

The Veterans Memorial was unveiled by three Pearl Harbor survivors, Harold Mulligan, Chuck Salatin and Chris Dalton, whose husband was serving there. Steve Allely played "Amazing Grace" on his bagpipes during the unveiling. The stone memorial, nestled in the garden that surrounds the gazebo, bears the names of those with Sisters contacts who have died in service to their country.

After the unveiling of the memorial, David Eddleston performed a British Army Command Sword Salute, honoring the veterans named in the memorial and those seated in the audience. The salute was accompanied by the haunting bagpipe melody, "Highland Cathedral."

Senator Ron Wyden and Brigadier General Charlie Yriarte, Commander 82nd Brigade, Oregon National Guard, were the featured speakers. Senator Wyden, a staunch supporter of veterans' health care services, reminded listeners of how big the veterans issue is.

"We have a social contract to those who serve, and we mustn't rest until all our soldiers get decent health care," he said.

General Yriarte spoke of honoring and remembering the fallen heroes. They served because they believed in duty, honor and country, he said. He encouraged the audience to remember and comfort those who have lost loved ones, and to visit soldiers' gravesites, thank those in uniform and shake the hands of veterans.

The service concluded with a presentation by the Crook County High School NJROTC color guard. Kristi Jackson sang a song honoring POW and MIA soldiers, a performance that brought many to tears. The colors were again presented, accompanied by each military branch's song. The Stars and Stripes was accompanied by Gilbert Phillips singing "Proud To Be An American." The NJROTC finale was a precision gun drill, executed flawlessly.

A barbeque put on by the Sisters VFW 8138 and American Legion 86 Posts concluded the day and was well attended. The Memorial Day service is organized by the local VFW and American Legion Posts, which have been active in the Sisters area for 61 years.