By Iesha Toft
S-N Contributor
Royal remembers America's fallen
Native son delivers keynote address
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IESHA TOFT/SENTINEL-NEWS
The beautiful pre-adorned crosses and flags set the scene for Monday morning's Memorial Day service.
Royal's annual Memorial Day Service was held at the city's Triangle Park on Monday. Members of American Legion Goodwin Post #248 raised the American flag at the park then headed with Auxiliary members to Trimello and Willow Creek cemeteries to decorate the graves of deceased veterans.
More than 100 flags waved in glory throughout the festive park grounds.
IESHA TOFT/SENTINEL-NEWS
The somber silhouette of the kneeling soldier helped visitors reflect on everything America's veterans endured to give us our daily freedoms.
The silhouette of a kneeling soldier sat somberly underneath a solitary tree, allowing a moment of recollection in all that has been sacrificed for Americans to share these moments of freedom together. Approximately 130 crosses stood and were then adorned with wreaths of fern and poppies, giving remembrance and pause to esteemed men and women buried somewhere other than Trimello or Willow Creek cemeteries. Then came the decoration of the crosses of Thomas Burgeson, Jim Albers and Donald Scott – three Clay Central classmates from the Class of 1967 all killed in the Vietnam war. John Roberts led the American Legion's dedication ceremony of five new flags to honor recently-deceased veterans Vernon Mortensen, Roger Kruse, Skip Ritchart, Emmet Doyle and Stanley Jespersen.
Royal native Ret. Gen. Allen Batschelet shared a compelling message with the crowd, reviewing touching stories of veterans who served under his command, the history of Decoration Day (originally intended for Civil War veterans only) and the importance of Memorial Day to all Americans as a way to preserve one's liberty.
"God Bless America" resounded through the park as the service congregation lifted their voices. The decoration of the Unknown Soldier followed. Next was a gun solute led by veterans John Roberts, Buddy Yungbluth, Marlin Gustin, Bill Albers, Rick Burgeson, Rollie Mortensen and Roger Wantland. Lara Hanna rounded off the beautiful ceremony by playing "Taps." Following the service, the American Legion Auxiliary served refreshments at the Royal Community Building.
