Katy honors its own on Memorial Day

By R. Hans Miller | News Editor
Posted 6/3/21

More than 100 Katy-area residents showed up at Magnolia Cemetery Monday morning for Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 9182’s Memorial Day ceremony. The event featured Katy Elks Lodge 2628 poet …

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Katy honors its own on Memorial Day

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More than 100 Katy-area residents showed up at Magnolia Cemetery Monday morning for Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 9182’s Memorial Day ceremony. The event featured Katy Elks Lodge 2628 poet laureate Ernie Cormier II as well as a 21-gun salute and WWII veteran Wilbur Duval as keynote speaker.

“(Memorial Day) was to honor those who gave their life for our freedom,” Duval said. “That’s what it was for.”

Duval spoke about the history of Memorial Day which first began as a military observance in May of 1868 when General John A. Logan issued a declaration for the celebration of what was then called Decoration Day. The tradition began in Decatur, Ill. which Duval said was a small town at the time, though it has grown to a population approaching 100,000 today. He explained that the observance was not unique, with similar honors being performed as far back as the Roman Empire. In the U.S., Decoration Day was observed on May 5 for many years, Duval said.

Logan had chosen May 5 because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle at the time, Duval said.

“Now, this went on up until 1971 as Decoration Day, then Congress got involved in this thing, as usual, so they made changes,” Duval said. “They decided to make it the last day of May, giving us a three-day holiday. And they also made changes, too, so that all veterans now would be included, not just the ones from the Civil War.”

Duval also discussed the large numbers of veterans across the country who died in service or after serving in the U.S. military. He said that according to the Department of the Army who runs Arlington National Cemetery and other similar cemeteries, about 3.7 million Americans are buried across the country. He estimated that possibly as many as 3 million more are in private or small, local cemeteries across the country.

According to Pew Research, there are about 19 million veterans in the United States. The Department of the Army’s website says that any veteran who has received a discharge other than dishonorable is eligible to be laid to rest in a national cemetery.

Prior to Duval taking the stage, Larissa Plunto read a letter from Republican Congressman Michael McCaul who was unable to make it due to other events he was required to attend in his district. In his letter, McCaul expressed his appreciation for the sacrifices of the military men and women who have lost their lives in service to the United States. The letter said that without the sacrifices of those serving in the armed forces and their families, communities like Katy throughout the nation could not remain safe and enjoy the nation’s values of liberty, equality and freedom.

“Each year, Memorial Day offers us the opportunity to remember our fallen soldiers and reflect on their true heroism,” McCaul’s letter read. “Today, we thank these heroes for their sacrifices and honor their legacy and our nation’s fight for freedom.”

Following the speeches, members of the VFW post placed ceremonial bunches of flowers upon the podium alongside headwear worn by the Coast Guard, Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force in appreciation for each branch’s ongoing service and the service of those who had died in uniform.

Other attendees included Katy Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harris, Katy City Council members Janet Corte, Dan Smith and Rory Robertson, several motorcycle riders who gather to honor veterans, Navy Sea Cadets who participated by carrying the colors of each branch of the military, Katy Police Chief Noe Diaz and several deputies and a contingent of the Katy Fire Department along with recently named Fire Chief Kenneth Parker.

The ceremony was finalized by the 21-gun salute performed by an honor guard made up of members of VFW Post 9182 and a closing prayer by VFW Chaplain Jeb Strickland.

“Now Lord, we ask for constant awareness of you, your blessings of freedom, your blessings of courageous men and women who step forward to protect your blessings on those who are supportive of those men and women,” Strickland said.

On This Day In May

By Hubert E. “Ernie” Cormier II

The start of summer comes on this day,
Vacations, cookouts, summer games to play.
We also take time to recognize, on this day,
All of those who were taken away.
We remember them, on this day,
For protecting our right to live our own way.
The red poppies we wear, on this day,
Is in remembrance of them, in a special way.
Old Glory flies at half-staff, until noon, on this day,
Then She is taken back up, all the way.
It was once called Decoration Day,
Their graves were decorated on the 30th of May.
We still decorate their graves, on this day,
But now, it's on the last Monday in May.
So in memoriam, we will gather, on this day,
To honor and praise them, on this day in May.

Memorial Day, VFW Post 9182, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Jeb Strickland, Michael McCaul, Wilbur Duval