Sarah Nigbor

This Memorial Day, I hope you were able to attend one of the many observances put on by our American Legions around Pierce County. I was fortunate to attend ceremonies held at the Bay City Lakeshore and Prescott’s downtown. My only regret is there is only one of me, because I would have liked to attend them all.

As the mournful yet beautiful bugle playing “Taps” rang out across Lake Pepin, I was thankful for the men and women who have answered the call to serve our country. Some paid for our freedom with their lives. The least we can do as civilians is honor their sacrifices by attending their ceremonies, thanking those still here and supporting their community missions.

The American Legions and VFW throughout Pierce County do so much for our communities each year. It’s really unfathomable how much they do. Just to a name a few (though this is by no means the whole list):

• Provide Honor Guard military rites at veteran funerals
• Place flags and present Memorial Day colors, rifle salutes and taps at area cemeteries
• Present Veterans Day colors, rifle salutes, speakers and taps at local schools
• Deliver gifts to “shut-in” veterans on special holidays
• Support scholarships, school and youth programs
• Hold fundraisers for area youth sports teams, organizations and more
• Host American Red Cross blood drives, helping to save lives
• Provide proper worn flag disposal
• Build memorials honoring veterans and their service (most recently, Spring Valley, Bay City and soon-to-come Prescott)

It was truly heart-warming to see the large number of Ellsworth Middle School students who spent the morning performing at three ceremonies around Bay City and Trenton. Despite it being a holiday weekend in which many people travel, the number of students doing their part was impressive. Well done EMS! I know other schools’ musicians participated in their respective ceremonies as well. I can tell you, the adults attending those appreciate you so much. I heard so many wonderful comments around me in the crowd.

As the gigantic American flag rose in the air Monday morning over downtown Prescott from the No Name’s flagpole, the Stars & Stripes waving proudly in the whipping wind, I teared up. I believe our country is at a crossroads; I pray the chaos, uncertainty, fear and cruelty in the world will come to an end, that common sense, truth, facts and justice will reign. I couldn’t think of a better gift for our 250^th anniversary than all Americans uniting in pride for their country and dedicating themselves to common decency and helping others.

We could all learn something from the Spring Valley American Legion’s website, which published the Legion’s vision statement.

“For God and country, we associate ourselves together for the following purposes:

• To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America
• To maintain law and order
• To foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent Americanism
• To preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in all wars
• To inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation
• To combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses
• To make right the master of might
• To promote peace and goodwill on earth
• To safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy
• To consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness.”

Thank you to all Pierce County American Legion & Auxiliary members for all you do. Words aren’t ever enough.