Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
A somewhat smaller than usual crowd was on hand for this year's Memorial Day ceremony at the Odessa Cemetery. But the hard work of a few nevertheless left the area decorated with flowers and flags on the majority of graves.
Veteran Jerry Jasman places the flag being dedicated in the name of Robert "Shorty" Sewall who died during the past year.
Mike Hardung, Steve Siegel and a volunteer veteran from the audience place a wreath at the World War II Memorial Tank at the cemetery.
Jeremy Jasman holds the ceremonial bugle. Edwin Jasman, Jerry Jasman, John Hardt, Tony Quilici and Seth Smith make up the salute squad on Monday, Memorial Day.
Pastor Jon Hayashi of Heritage Church in Odessa gave the keynote address.
Memorial Day last Monday was celebrated with the usual ceremony at the Odessa Cemetery and earlier in the day at Quail Court. Members of VFW Post #7395 and American Legion Post #105 were on hand to carry the flags, fire the 21-gun salute and present other parts of the program. These former service members, some of them in their eighties, still have the courage and feel the obligation to show their pride in their fellow veterans, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Those veterans placed a cross and flag on the grave of every veteran in the Odessa Cemetery, then went on to present the program.
Legion member Bob Kissler emceed the proceedings, Frank White and Frank Clark were part of the honor guard, and Loren Totusek held the U.S. flag. Firing the salute were veterans Edwin Jasman, Jerry Jasman, John Hardt, Tony Quilici and Gerald (Seth) Smith.
Some non-veterans also made contributions. Jeremy Jasman brought the ceremonial bugle for the playing of Taps. Mike Hardung, called upon veterans from the audience to help him lay the wreath at the World War II tank at the cemetery commemorating those who served in that conflict. Pastor Jon Hayashi of Heritage Church in Odessa gave the invocation and spoke on the meaning of the symbolism and history of the Pledge of Allegiance.
The crowd was not as large as in some years, but for those who came out, the brief ceremony was gratifying, the weather was perfect and the majority of graves were very tastefully decorated.
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