On an overcast Monday morning,  members of the Clearwater and Clear Lake Color Guard, escorted by the Clearwater Legion Riders, made their way from cemetery to cemetery for Memorial Day ceremonies.

 

At each of six area cemeteries, a small crowd stood in silence as Legion Chaplain Wally Westerberg read the names of all the veterans who had found their final resting place. The brief ceremony ended with the playing of Taps.

 

Once the final ceremony ended at Acacia Cemetery, members of the guard returned to the Clearwater Legion to hear listen to the Memorial Day message and share a meal.

 

It was a better than average turnout this year, with about 75 people in attendance.

 

“I’d like to thank you,” said Legion Commander Ron Lashinski. “There’s so many things going on this weekend, I appreciate you taking the time to be with us here today.”

 

The crowd was treated to some appropriate music during the ceremony, including you dont the cost.

 

Lashinski introduced the guest speaker, Domigo Aguilar, an Army National Guard veteran with over 13 years of service.

 

He was a member of B Company 2/136 Mechanized Infantry out of Crookston, MN. He served in Bosnia in 2003-2004 and Iraq In 2005-2007.

 

Aguilar now lives in Clear Lake and is an executive board member of the Clearwater American Legion.

 

Lashinski noted one skirmish on Aug. 12, 2006 that Aguilar had been a part of in Iraq while serving in an outpost that protects the U.S. water supply to Camp Fallujah.

 

“Ten soldiers from Bravo Company fought one of the most significant battles that the Minnesota National Guard soldiers have  fought in Iraq to date,” said Lashinski. “Up to 35 insurgents riding in two fortified dump trucks and supported by mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns launched a surprise attack from 20 meters away from the perimeter.”

 

One Bravo soldier was seriously injured and 20 insurgents were killed in the battle. The soldiers defended their outpost. Lashinski said Aguilar often speaks in memory of the three men in Bravo Company who lost their lives during his service: Sgt. Corey Rystad, 2006; Sgt. Bryan McDonough, 2006 and SSG James Wosika, 2007.

 

Then it was Aguilar’s turn to speak. Since 1776, countless men and women have given their lives in service to their country and fellow citizens. Memorial Day is set aside to honor all those gallant heroes. We praise them for their sacrifice.

 

Even today, when our country seems to bicker and squabble over the little things, it is worth noting that there are hopes and ideals worth fighting for.           

 

 Like many of you, I have watched men in battle fall. I know what it is to not know whether or not I’m coming home to my family. In these moments, it was not some faraway land or some political leader that my thoughts were turning to. It was my fellow soldiers. I fought for them. I fought for survival and I fought for the ideals worth dying for. 

 

This day of all days, I’m reminded of the cost my fellow soldiers paid for my freedom. We can honor them by living our lives fully as they would have.

 

Martin Luther King once said, “In the end, it is not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends we will remember.”

 

Take a moment today and gaze up at the beautiful stars and stripes that symbolize our freedom.... Thank you.

 

The ceremony ended with John Jordan and Rick Stang singing, “I Love This Land and God Bless The USA.