Veteran’s Corner

Jason Hicks | Commander United Patriotic bodies
Fargo Memorial Honor Guard

Another successful Memorial Day has come and gone. Area Veterans organizations have carried this torch for many, many years. This year was a bit abnormal, there was no rain. Certainly a welcome reprieve from years past. As I attended several ceremonies through out the day, I couldn’t help reflect on years past and friends lost.
These days WW2 and Korean War Vets are very hard to come by. Sadly we are losing our next Greatest Generation in our Vietnam Veterans. I look around and wonder, who is gonna pick up the torch and carry it forward. It keeps me up at night. We have plenty of people who claim to be active in the Veteran community, always ready to jump in front of a camera and so called advocates, but they are never around when there is actual work to be done. Oh well, I would rather work with a few dedicated types than a bunch who are never available.
One of the ceremonies that really meant a lot to me this year was the picnic and ceremony held at our good neighbors at the Maple Sheyenne Lutheran church. For the 3rd year running we (The Fargo Memorial Honor Guard) have celebrated with Maple Sheyenne Lutheran Church. We have a picnic meal and a memorial service and of course good old fashioned fellowship. Our speaker was one of our own, Joe Wallevand, who knocked it out of the park with his speech. We finished with a rifle volley and taps per tradition. A wonderful success.
As I sit and write this article, I know this week (Thursday) there will be some good news regarding the National Cemetery Project that the Fargo Memorial Honor Guard has been working so hard for. Stay tuned. And God Bless America.