Memorial Day, which began in 1868 — three years after the end of the Civil War — began as a way to honor, remember and pay tribute upon the graves of fallen soldiers.
Lt. John C. Roche VFW Post 212 held an annual ceremony Sunday for Memorial Day, according to Commander Ron Peters.
VFW Post 212 along with the Frances Sherman Auxiliary and American Legion 108 held the ceremony at 2 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial in Willow Dale Cemetery, where Quartermaster Sergeant Major Charles Beattie spoke on his experiences in Vietnam, how it feels to deal with combat loss and the importance of young veterans getting involved.
Beattie has a 42-year military career and has fought in every war since Vietnam. He is currently retired from Walter Reed Mortuary in Washington, D.C., where he was responsible for notifying families of their loss and handling the burial arrangements at Arlington Cemetery, said Peters.
According to VFW Post 212,The VFW traces its roots back to 1899, when veterans of the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection, 1899-1902, founded local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service.
Many soldiers arrived home wounded or sick. There was no medical care or veterans’ pension for them, and they were left to care for themselves.
In their misery, some of these veterans banded together and formed organizations with what would become known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. After chapters were formed in Ohio, Colorado and Pennsylvania, the movement quickly gained momentum and spread across the whole of the United States.
Each VFW, since their inception, has held an annual ceremony to remember, honor and pay tribute to their fallen brethren, according to Peters.
Veterans, a century ago, realized the need to recognize not only living veterans but the fallen as well — so the VFW was formed; however, as Peters explained, there is now a need for a younger generation of veterans to step into their roles of giving back; even after the physical fighting is over, the work is never finished, and VFWs across the country are struggling to involve the younger generation of veterans.
“We need to find a way to bridge the gap,” stated Peters “for our future.”
The VFW Post 212 encourages any individuals in the local area to contact them if there is a veteran’s grave in need of memorialization.
