Photo by Becky Polaski Gary Schreiber, past president of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 948, prepares to light the eternal flame during the Veterans Day Memorial Service held on the Diamond on Wednesday morning.

By Becky Polaski

Staff Writer

The annual Veterans Day Memorial Service was held on the Diamond  in St. Marys on Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. The master of ceremonies for the event was retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Victor Straub. 

Straub began by noting that the sunny weather made for a beautiful day for the program. He also stated that a Mass was held at 8:45 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church for all living and deceased veterans.

The ceremony on the Diamond began with an opening prayer by Fr. Eric Vogt, O.S.B., Pastor of Sacred Heart Church.

Following this, Straub explained the significance of the white crosses, poppies, and orange ribbons on the white crosses that were on display on the Diamond.

“The crosses are a common, simple memorial to mark the resting place of those who gave their lives on the battlefield for their country,” Straub said. “The color white has long stood for purity. In war it is called the color of truce, which means stop firing. Thus, in many cemeteries we have white crosses marking the resting place of those whom we honor today.”

Straub then explained that associating poppies with veterans dates back to World War I when many of the battlefields in France bloomed with wild poppies.

“Hence the poppy has become the symbol of the tragedy of war and the renewal of life,” Straub said.

The orange ribbons on the white crosses signify the remembrance of the victims of Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.

“Over 58,000 men and women died during the Vietnam War. Since the end of the war in Vietnam over 400,000 men and women died and are still dying from the effects of Agent Orange,” Straub explained. “Agent Orange, a defoliant to kill vegetation and expose the enemy, was sprayed in Vietnam and parts of the surrounding countries. The effects of Agent Orange have caused 43 different cancers and spina bifida in children, which can be handed down for eight generations.”

During the ceremony the Spirit of the Alleghenies Chorus, under the direction of Tom Hoffman, performed “God Bless America” and “This Is My Country”.

The guest speaker was Elk County Commissioner Ron Beimel, who spoke on the importance of honoring America’s veterans.

American Legion Post 103 Adjutant Jim Distler recited the poem “Flanders Fields” during the ceremony as well.

Distler noted that he attended the Kaulmont School when he was a young boy in the 1940s during World War II and one of his teachers had he and his classmates recite and remember “Flanders Fields”.

Gary Schreiber, past president of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 948, lit the eternal flame during the event.

“The significance of the Eternal Flame is to remind the living of the sacrifices of those who fought with valor and distinction in thousands of obscure places during World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Granada, Afghanistan, Iraq, and the War against Terrorism, and all the other conflicts the United States has been involved in,” Straub explained.

Additionally, Frank Skok, past commander of St. Marys American Legion Post 103, and Art Fledderman, Commander of VFW Post 1037, placed a wreath honoring deceased veterans in front of the center cross at the display on the Diamond.

As the ceremony drew to a close, members of the St. Marys Servicemen’s Burial Detail raised the flag to full mast, then lowered the flag slowly to half mast, pausing momentarily to honor deceased veterans. They then slowly lowered the flag the remainder of the way before briskly raising it back to full mast. As the flag was raised the Spirit of the Alleghenies Chorus performed “The National Anthem”. Following this was a tolling of the bells 11 times and the firing squad fired three volleys of shots and “Taps” was played. The program concluded with a prayer by Fr. Eric Vogt.