It was going to have to take something more than a pandemic to keep the Bay City American Legion from holding a Memorial Day Ceremony this year.

Last year’s event had to be scrubbed because of heavy rain. This year’s ceremony took a little careful planning because of COVID-19, but it was impressive and respectful.

“We were going to make sure we had a Memorial Day ceremony,” said Post Adjutant Devin Feuerhelm. “We looked at doing something a little bigger this year but the post decided to just do the ceremony here. We got rained out last year, so this was an important year for us. It was going to go on rain or shine.”

The “shine” happened Monday morning just for a short while, as the 10 a.m. event went off without a drop of rain falling on the Legion members, Scouts in attendance and community members who stood on the edge of the lawn at the Bay City Legion Hall.

While the crowd on hand may not have been huge, the event did also draw a Facebook following, as it was live-streamed for those who could not make it in person.

Jerry Hassenberg made remarks to start the ceremony “Comrades this day is sacred with an almost visible presence of those that went before us,” he said.

More poignant comments from Hassenberg’s speech were: “Let us renew our pledge of loyalty to our country and its flag,” he said. “We who have survived must never let their memories be forgotten.”

Hassenberg invited Chaplain Bruce Powers to say a prayer. With a silenced crowd and Legion members at attention, member Mike Farrell approached a cross placed in the middle of the Legion lawn. He bent and placed a wreath over the cross.

The traditional 21-gun salute was conducted, and Marne Peterson ended the event with a stirring rendition of “Taps.”

The Bay City Legion is an active group and sends a large contingent of its members to military funerals in the area.

It was nice to have the event streamed live to be seen worldwide. The group put up flags live on Facebook Thursday.

“I got a call from my granddaughter in Dallas,” member Bob Stroupe said. “She told me she was watching me put up flags. She’s probably watching this too.”

Photos by John McLoone.