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Three
schools kick off local graduation season
Boats roar down Willamette River course during
annual races
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Honoring the war dead with ceremony, song |
More than 100 people appear Monday at Memorial Park
to honor American military service personnel |
By Amanda
Newman, Newberg Graphic intern
E-mail Amanda at
anewman@eaglenewspapers.com
|
A
solemn gathering met in Memorial Park Monday morning with a single,
united purpose: to honor the dead. The memorial ceremony, a
longstanding Newberg tradition, concluded a procession through
Newberg and Dundee cemeteries to honor victims of wars and
conflicts.
Members of the community, Boy Scouts, Heritage Girls, the
Newberg-Dundee Police Department and servicemen from all branches of
the armed forces turned out for the 11 a.m. ceremony, hosted by the
local posts of Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.
Following opening
statements from master of ceremonies Dick Lightfoot, a retired Air
Force officer, the Rev. William Larson gave an invocation. The flag
was then raised to half-mast by the police department honor guard,
to the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
The assembly recited the Pledge of Allegiance and students from
Chehalem Valley Middle School recited the World War I-inspired poems
“In Flanders Fields” and “We Shall Keep the Faith.”
Capt. James Lyda of the Oregon Army National Guard gave the keynote
address. A Newberg resident and graduate of Newberg High School and
George Fox University, Lyda served in the Iraq War from 2003 to
2004.
“At the heart of each service member is a burden that is very hard
to bear,” Lyda said. “The protection of freedom.” He spoke of the
sacrifices made by all service personnel, saying, “All gave some and
some gave all,” and ended on a hopeful note with a reading of
Deuteronomy 20:4, which says, “For the Lord your God is the one who
goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you
victory.”
Following the speech, a Newberg High School student led the
gathering in singing “God Bless America.” Sgt. Tim Weaver of the
police department recited the Gettysburg Address, as he has for many
years. The police department honor guard then read the roll call of
fallen service members from World Wars I and II, Korea and Vietnam.
A group of Sherwood Elks, a representative of a local Boy Scout troop,
the commandant of the local American Legion post, members of the
Ladies Auxiliary of Veterans of Foreign Wars and two VFW posts were
among the groups and individuals who came forward to present
remembrances to the dead. A local Heritage Girls group sang “God
Bless America” and the Heritage Girls’ oath song.
The honor guard gave the traditional 21-gun salute, followed by a
performance of “Taps” by NHS students. The honor guard raised the
flag to full-mast, as Lightfoot said, “We go from a flag at
half-mast to honor the dead to a flag at full-mast to honor our
nation.”
Larson gave the closing benediction and led the assembled in the
Lord’s Prayer.
“It was an excellent program, well-attended because of the
weather,” Larson said afterwards.
A barbecue followed the ceremony, with proceeds going to support
the VFW and American Legion posts. |
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From
May 30, 2007, Newberg Graphic
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