Armed Forces Day Observance
Gilpin Veterans honor all who serve and protect our freedom
On a blustery and snowy Saturday, May 15, local veterans of the U.S. military observed this year’s Armed Forces Day at the Gilpin County Veterans Memorial site. Veterans Lionel Begg and Teodoro Dominguez were the hosts for the ceremony. Armed Forces Day in the United States is dedicated to all branches of military service, including the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, National Guard, and Navy with the 2010 celebration theme of “United in Strength.”
Mr. Begg began the ceremony with remarks about the sixth anniversary of the dedication of the Gilpin County Veterans Memorial and that Armed Forces Day was a “memorial service for all veterans.” Mr. Dominguez was called upon to lay a traditional red-white-and-blue wreath on a rose marble monument engraved with, “All gave some/Some gave all,” at the Memorial site.
Veterans present were then asked to present arms and all saluted. In addition to Begg and Dominguez, other veterans in attendance at the ceremony were: Michael Ikeler, U.S. Army; Thomas Lopez, U.S. Army; Robert Masslich, U.S. Army; Fred Murkland, U.S. Navy; James Murkland, U.S. Air Force; and Lewis Wagner, U.S. Air Force.
The veterans’ salute was followed by Emma Berg playing a poignant melody of 24 notes, “Taps,” on her trumpet. Ms. Berg has been rendering “Taps” as a beautiful piece of music for almost seven years – since the ninth grade – at memorial ceremonies or whenever she is called upon.
The first use of the military bugle call “Taps” at a funeral is historically believed to have occurred in 1862 during the American Civil War (1861-1865). It then became military custom to play “Taps” at a funeral in replacing the traditional gunfire volley. The call is unique to the U.S. military, and is used for funerals, memorial services, and wreath-laying.
After “Taps” Mr. Begg recited the name of local veterans who passed away this year, and requested a moment of silence in honoring them. Another moment of silence was requested for our soldiers presently serving in Afghanistan. A final moment of silence followed in honor of the veterans who had come home.
Next Thomas Lopez opened his talk with a prayer and read passages from the “Highest Call,” a book of collected quotes, scriptures and stories dedicated to those who have served their country. Mr. Lopez read the following quote from 1865 during the American Civil War: “Hurrah! Hurrah! General Lee has surrendered. Peace is at hand!” He remarked that we still have battles, they’re still out there and that we still want peace.
Mr. Lopez observed that there are over 25 million U.S. veterans alive today who have served “from the shores of Omaha Beach to the sands of Afghanistan.” He concluded his talk by remarking that we owe a deep debt of gratitude to those who answered the highest call and may have sacrificed all in doing so.
Upon the observance’s close, several people stayed behind to share memories and discovered that they all shared a remarkable link, a sort of USO (United Service Organizations) connection. The USO, championed by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, is a congressionally chartered, private, nonprofit organization, functioning as a bridge between the American public and the U.S. military since 1941.
One of them remembered his mother being a whiz at crossword puzzles when he was little and it fascinated him – how she could do that. He found out later that she had not only served in the U.S. Army as a sergeant, but had been a code encrypter stationed in Japan during the Korean War (1950-53). His father was also in the Army at the same time and stationed in South Korea. During an R&R (Rest & Recreation) tour to Japan his father met his mother at a USO – it was love at first sight followed by marriage.
Another individual reminisced about growing up on a military base in the Western Pacific and traveling to the United States every other year via military aircraft or ships. She attended all of the USO Bob Hope Christmas Shows at the base from the mid-1960s during the Vietnam War (1953-1975). After graduating from college she lived and worked in San Diego, California. She also volunteered at the local USO–where she met her future husband who was serving in the Navy at the time.
Armed Forces Day stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces within one department, the Department of Defense, in 1947. The holiday was declared by U.S. President Harry S. Truman in a presidential proclamation on February 20, 1950, and the first official celebration was held on May 20, 1950. It is a holiday celebrated on the third Saturday of May and designed for American citizens to gather together in thanking our military members for their patriotic service to our country.
In addition to Armed Forces Day there are two other major American celebrations honoring our servicemen and women: Memorial Day on Monday, May 31, and Veterans Day on Thursday, November 11.
Memorial Day began in 1866 after the American Civil War and was originally called “Decoration Day” in observance of decorating the tombs of fallen soldiers. The alternative name of “Memorial Day” began to be used informally in 1882. Memorial Day was officially declared a national holiday by the U.S. Congress in 1971 to honor the fallen.
Armistice Day was proclaimed by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson on November 11, 1919 in commemorating the signing of the Armistice ending World War I (1914-1919). It was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress in 1938. The celebration was later declared Veterans Day in 1954 in honor of all veterans who had served their country.
This Memorial Day, per the National Moment of Remembrance enacted by Congress in 2000, please take a moment to remember our members of the Armed Forces. Pause wherever you are at 3:00 p.m. local time for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to our nation.