At 4:00 a.m. Jim Prombo was dismayed at the Monday, May 26, 2014, rainstorm. It looked to ruin the annual Memorial Day Parade and service he and others had carefully built. He need not have worried. By the time the first-rate parade units began moving at 10:30, originating at N. Madison and E. Main Streets, skies were clear and sunny; crowds had gathered in lawn chairs along the route; the grass was dry enough for sitting. In this writer’s opinion, May 26 was the most exceptional Memorial Day in Morrison, IL.
Morrison Police Department led the procession west along Main Street and north on Genesee Street to Grove Hill Cemetery at High Street. The American Legion Honor Guard carried The Colors, the Legion Post #328 flag, and a Prisoner of War/Missing in Action flag.
Air Force Reserve Major Amy Johannsen walked beside Seaman Dennis VanZuiden. Whiteside County Sheriff’s Deputy Andy Henson and daughter Kate rode in the D.A.R.E. car.
Mark Schuler transported Morrison Junior High 7th grader Preston Behrens and Mayor Everett Pannier to the Veterans Memorial/Pavilion. Pastor Polly Klimson escorted her husband Joe.
New this year were four Patriot Guard members on motorcycles; their club is based in Dixon, IL. Allen Buikema is a Morrison member. The rider at far left stated they would return next May. A large group of volunteers carried the impressive United States flag. It was donated by Community State Bank.
Veterans spanning a wide range of ages filled the hay racks provided by auctioneer Dave Damhoff. He has supplied the convenient conveyances since 2002.
There was a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), commonly known as the Humvee, a four-wheel drive military automobile. Morrison Cub and Boy Scouts followed the High School band.
Next came the Wheel Horse Patrol from Davenport, IA. Eight Kaaba Shriners participated this year on four, well-choreographed vehicles. Larry Wiersema of Morrison is the current President of this entertaining group. He stated six of the participants were from Morrison, with one apiece from Dixon and Clinton, IA. The Shriners have been part of the Memorial Day Parade for well over 10 years, according to Morrison member Henry Emerson.
Another new entry was a group of 13 riders on horseback, a dozen of them are Morrisonians. One boy is from Erie, IL. Jesse Habben asked a few friends if they wished to ride in the Memorial Day Parade, as did Sandi VanDerLeest. They are not a saddle club, just aficionados. One member stated they, too, would return next year.
By 11:00, people were in place and services began in the Veterans Memorial/Pavilion in Grove Hill Cemetery, on N. High Street. Pastor PollyKlimson of Fenton, IL, United Methodist Church, delivered the invocation. Prombo noted 146 years of service were being commended today and listed the numbers of United States military buried in Europe, The Philippines, Tunisia, Hawaii, and other battle sites around the world. Unknown bodies and those missing in action are counted, too. The names on Morrison markers indicate that “what they did is our heritage as free Americans,” he concluded.
As he does each year, Prombo invited service personnel to stand or raise a hand to mark the decade of their duty, starting with the 1930’s. No one responded. There were attendees from the 1940’s through the 2010’s, and some are currently on duty. “One recruit [is] ready to ship out,” he added. Family members of those currently serving were asked to stand and be recognized. That was sobering–80 years of conflict were represented by young boys who went to war, with no lasting peace in sight.
Morrison High School band students had marched in the parade and performed at the cemetery. Instructors David Bean and Meagan Zahora had prepared band and choral music, respectively, for the occasion. Instrumental numbers were “The Star Spangled Banner” and “America, the Beautiful.” The choral number was “Eternal Father, Strong to Serve,” which includes the haunting phrase, “to those in peril on the sea.” It is known as The Navy Hymn, but Prombo requested a version that includes land-and-air-based service personnel. Click here to listen to a video presentation of the song.
Preston Behrens read his moving essay, “What a Veteran Means to Me,” which advised exalting veterans, rather than athletes and actors. He touched on the physical and mental damage that is done in wartime and the high cost to military service. The piece began as extra credit for teacher Jan Scott’s English class; she submitted it to the Whiteside County Regional Office of Education for their yearly essay contest. Behrens was the 7th grade winner.
Andrea Kophamer Allen, her husband (front seat), and two of their children are shown in Gary Spencer’s parade vehicle. Isabel, 8, is at left, and 5-year-old Elaina is in her mother’s lap; Nick, age 12, and Lexi, 10, did not ride along. Andrea was the featured speaker. Michael Allen, a Morrison High School graduate, is a Navy SEAL. She poignantly addressed the difficulties of being a military wife coping with four children, while her husband was deployed. Being a “single parent” was difficult each time he left, yet having Mike home for short periods disrupted the children’s routines. She noted there were blessings in the wives’ time alone, as other military families supported each other, just as those in combat did. Andrea became strong because of necessity and her faith. The large crowd rose to offer her a standing ovation and applause.
“Truly spoken from the heart,” commented Prombo.
Prombo struggled to pay tribute to the late Albert Benedict, Jr., who died one week ago on Monday, May 19. He was to receive a framed certificate for his 7-decade membership in American Legion Post #328. Both men were Marine Corps members. Dale Usterbowski presented the certificate to Arlene Benedict for her husband’s “faithful and dedicated service to the American Legion” as a “70-year member in good standing” and with “constant loyalties to the American Legion.”
Several events led to the conclusion of services. “Leaf Bearer” Air Force Reserve Major Amy Johannsen laid a red-white-and-blue floral wreath in front of the white cross at the west side of the pavilion. The cross states, “Remembering The Lost.”
Members of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) offered the traditional rifle salute with five men shooting three rounds. MHS trumpeters Kyle McCoy and Eric Kull took echoing parts playing “Taps.” Legionnaire Fred Steele directed the Honor Guard to retire The Colors.
As part of Memorial Day, the public is invited to an Open House at the American Legion Post #328 Hall, 306 E. Main Street, between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. The few members of the VFW meet there, also. On display this year were military items from Morrison Historical Society. A complimentary lunch was offered.
Of note is an upcoming World War II Reenactment in Elk Page Park, Dixon, IL. It spans two days, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday, June 21, and Sunday, June 22.
