A time of remembrance
Residents of Sanders County and members of the VFW Plains Post 3596 gathered at various sites in Plains and Thompson Falls on Sunday and Monday to honor those who gave their lives to protect the freedoms and rights of United States citizens as part of their Memorial Day services.
Residents of Sanders County and members of the VFW Plains Post 3596 gathered at various sites in Plains and Thompson Falls on Sunday and Monday to honor those who gave their lives to protect the freedoms and rights of United States citizens as part of their Memorial Day services.
The cemetery in Plains was decorated with American flags, marking the graves of local veterans as a short, but moving ceremony began on Sunday evening.
Jim Gillenbrandt, veteran and member of the VFW Plains Post began the services by giving a description of how and why Memorial Day was started back in 1868, a few years after the Civil War ended.
General John Logan, National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic designated May 30, 1968, as the day used for the purpose of strewing flowers and decorating the graves of comrades who died during the late rebellion.
"In this observance, no form of ceremony is prescribed, the comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect and as circumstances may permit," read Gillenbrandt. "Preserving and strengthening those kind of paternal feelings that have bound together the soldiers, sailors and marines, that united to suppress the late rebellion. Cherish tenderly the memory of our heroic dead."
Gillenbrandt continued the speech and said the living veterans pledge to show the nation's gratitude to the fallen soldiers and they pledge to hold Memorial Day services to honor and remember those who have lost their lives serving their country year to year.
"This grave represents the resting place to many departed comrades who served in all wars, wherever the body of a comrade lies, there the ground is hallowed, the presence here of solemn commemoration to all these men. By their services on land, on sea and in the air has made us all their debtors as the flag of a nation still flies over a land of free people," read Gillenbrandt.
Following the Memorial Day speech was a silent salute and a prayer honoring the fallen warriors.
After the ceremony concluded at the cemetery, the members of VFW Plains Post headed to the bridge leading to the Sanders County Fairgrounds to honor those who were lost at sea. A flowered wreath was dropped ceremoniously into the Clark Fork River in honor of those soldiers.
The Memorial Day events continued for the first time in history in Thompson Falls. The hour-long tribute included the history of the poppy flower, which has become the flower of remembrance and a symbol of those who have died while fighting for freedom, a tribute to the POWs and concluded with a ceremony at the High Bridge once again honoring those lost at sea.
Jane Loucks, who was contacted by the national VFW branch, was requested to speak at the ceremony and inform the public that there is a call out to any female family member of a service man or woman who was missing in action to help identify the remains of POWs as they are being discovered. All remains, said Loucks, contain mitochondrial DNA, which is DNA inherited only by the mother.
Loucks said all it takes is a single swab sent in to be tested at Joint Prisoners of War and Missing in Action Accounting Command station in Hawaii, which hosts the largest forensic and anthropology lab in the world and is dedicated to finding and returning the men and women that may have possibly been POWs.
"We're here to recognize our POWs and MIAS with the small table which occupies a place of dignity and honor. The table is round to show our everlasting concern for our missing men and women, referred to as our POWs and MIAs who are called comrades. They are unable to be with their loved ones and families at this time, so we join together to pay our humble tribute to them and bear witness to their continued absence," said Loucks.