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Community
By Quinn Illi
CRYSTAL FALLS – The Crystal Falls Memorial Day service began with the parade, including three speakers, performances by the Forest Park Marching Band, and finishing with the Wreath Ceremony, a volley by the Color Guard and Taps.
Mike Bjork, a Cold War Veteran, opened the service by wishing everyone “a Memorial Day filled with reflection and appreciation for our heroes.”
Vicki Prewitt, of the Christ United Methodist Church, then conducted the invocation and asked God to “guide us to be more mindful of this day and why we gather to [the fallen]. We ask that you open our mouths to hear stories of their sacrifices… …Sharing stories not just today, but repeatedly.”
This was followed by guest speaker “Buckskin” Bob Black, a member of the Sons Of the Union Veterans of the Civil War, who recited the American Creed and told those gathered “When you get the short end of the stick, it could always be worse. So please, keep on moving forward, even when you get the short end of the stick.”
The VFW Auxiliary then conducted the Wreath Ceremony in which the family of fallen veterans presented wreaths on markers for the major conflicts of the United States and the service was closed with a volley, the playing of Taps and a closing prayer by Vicki Prewitt.
A sincere thank you to all our fallen veterans and those they left behind.