Plummer Legion Post 623 & Auxiliary hold Memorial Day Program

Green trees provided the backdrop. Flags  of the military branches along with the American flag waved gently in the breeze while the sun peeked through the clouds.  Attendees sat on the bleacher stands. To the left 36 white crosses with the American flag  were precisely  placed to provide perfect rows no matter how you looked.  Such was the setting for the Plummer American Legion Memorial Day Service held at the Veterans Park. 

Post Commander David Eskeli presided over the service. Kaylee Eskeli, who will be attending the Air Force Academy this fall, read a poem Freedom isn’t Free.  First Lieutenant Dan Shield from the Grand Forks Air Base provided the address. He reminded listeners of the over one million people who have sacrificed their lives since the Revolutionary war to keep America free.  He quoted from former President Reagan’s October 22, 1964, A Time for Choosing Speech: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.”

After the speaker, the names of all the deceased were read by Les Hofstad for the Legion and Alice Jobe from the Auxiliary.  At the conclusion of the program the rifle squad fired a 3 volley salute after which Matt Schmitz played taps.  The program then retired to the river where Chaplin Les Hofstad read a prayer for those who died at sea and Alice Jobe tossed a wreath into the river in their honor.  Program concluded with another rifle squad salute and the playing of taps again by Schmitz.  Following the program everyone was invited to the Legion for lunch.