Ceremony commemorates Veterans Day

It was 22 degrees with snow and ice on the ground, but that didn't deter members of VFW Post 3596 from forming up in the military section of the Plains Cemetery Friday to publicly commemorate Veterans Day.

"This Veterans Day is to honor all who served and we want to do our part to make sure everyone is honored and remembered," said Post Commander Ron Kilbury, who led the ceremony that lasted less than two minutes. Six post members lined up with Marine Corps veteran Noah Hawthorne with a rifle at present arms and Army veteran Greg Davis holding the post flag. The group was surrounded by the final resting place of former military members, including 20 World War I vets, as Army veteran Don Kunzer placed a wreath at the base of the cemetery's American flag. The ceremony was held at the same place where the VFW conducts part of its Memorial Day ceremony.

The seven post members were there to pay tribute and honor the men and women, past and present, alive and dead, who have served in the U.S. armed forces. "We gather here today at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month of the year 2022 to place this wreath in remembrance of those who have served this great nation before us, to honor those who now serve this great nation, and to salute those who stand by them in times of peace and in times of war," said Kilbury at the beginning of the ceremony. Kilbury served in the Navy for six years and the Army for 20 years, retiring in 2010.

This was the first time for Kunzer to place a wreath for the Veterans Day ceremony, but it wasn't his first time to take part in such a ceremony. "I think it's important that we keep up the traditions like this," said Kunzer, who was honored that he was asked to place the wreath. The 77-year-old has had a long life of military traditions, starting in 1966 as a soldier in the Vietnam War. He had broken time in the Army, but overall spent 28 years in the service, retiring as a master sergeant in 2010.

This is the third consecutive year for the VFW to hold a Veterans Day event. Only two people from the community showed up for the ceremony, Scott and Dede Johnson of Plains. "I really appreciate the VFW and what they do for the community," said Scott Johnson, whose father served in the Marine Corps. Dede's father was a Korean War veteran who served in the Army and recently passed away. Scott believes it's important for the public to show their support to veterans and was surprised no others showed up. The Johnsons are retired teachers from California and moved to Plains in June. "Patriotism is in our blood, so to speak. It was short and succinct, but it was really thought out," he said.

Davis, who retired in 1998 from the Army, had hoped more people would have been in attendance for the ceremony, but he believes most people probably didn't know it was going to occur. "It reminds veterans that people remember the sacrifice they've done for their country," said Davis, who retired as a marine engineer in Maryland. "Being part of the ceremony is a privilege that's denied to the many that didn't come back," said Davis.

Veterans participating in the ceremony included Army veterans Jim Gillibrand and Eric Allen and Air Force veteran Heather Allen.

Veterans Day was created by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954, but the holiday's roots date to 1918 as Armistice Day, marking the end of the Great War, also known as World War I. Early on the morning of Nov. 11, 1918, the Germans and Allies signed an armistice to end the war, but it wouldn't be official until 11 a.m. Even with peace one minute away, an American named Henry Gunther charged a German machine gun position and was killed, the last of the Allies to perish in the war. In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11 as the first Armistice Day. While Memorial Day was established to honor those military members who perished serving their country, Veterans Day was created to pay tribute to all U.S. military men and women, dead or alive.

Post 3596 will conduct a flag retirement ceremony behind the post in Plains on the evening of December 7.