People nationwide gathered to remember those who served in our military.
Residents came together at the Haines cemetery to honor service members past and present.
Chaplain Bill Rostad led the crowd in a prayer.
Rostad: “Heavenly Father, you have blessed us with brave young men and women who are willing to defend our freedom. We ask your protection and grace surround them each day ”
American Legion Post 12 Commander Chuck Mitman spoke of remembering.
Mittman: “Don’t forget why we have this day. We are all gathered here today to honor our veterans. The few who were so willing to give up themselves to defend their brothers and sisters and their country.”
Mittman served with the navy in Vietnam.
Mittman: “One of my partners, his name was Daniel Boyle, and he didn’t come home. We both had motorcycles. We made a pact that we were going to get new Electra Glide blue motorcycles when we got back. And I finally honored that in 1992 I got the new Electra Glide.”
In 1994 Mittman rode the motorcycle across the country to the war memorial in Washington DC.
Mittman: “I rode to the wall, and the security guard was nice enough to let me push it in front of his name, so I could show him that I kept my end of the bargain. And I was sorry he wasn’t around. And I still am today.”
Terry Pardee also served in Vietnam. He is the service officer at the American legion.
Pardee: “I lost a lot of friends in Vietnam.”
Pardee says he has been around long enough to know most of the veterans buried in the cemetery.
Pardee: “Enjoy this three day weekend with friends and family, but always remember that it was purchased with the lives of those who served in America’s wars. Over a million killed in combat. And there is still 81.000 missing in action from world war two, there is still two thousand left missing in action from Korea, and there is still almost two thousand missing in action from Vietnam.”
