Veteran groups honor those lost for Memorial Day

Monday, May 29, 2023
DAR/B. Kay Richter
Volunteers put flags out Saturday at Poplar Bluff City Cemetery before a ceremony honoring fallen veterans.

A wave of red, white and blue could be seen Saturday morning as dozens of the volunteers installed miniature flags on the graves of veterans at the Poplar Bluff City Cemetery. The volunteers consisted of different veteran groups such as the American Legion and the SEMO Veterans Honor Guard.

Betty Gilmore, the president of the American Legion Auxiliary 153, gave a welcome speech during the formal ceremony honoring veterans Saturday morning at the veteran’s section of the city cemetery.

“It makes your heart feel better when you do this, but it’s good to honor the veterans as well,” Gilmore said during an interview before the ceremony.

Lilly Sexton, the chaplain of the American Legion offered the invocation followed by the pledge of allegiance by Alexia and Melodie Summers. A wreath presentation by Anita Guard and Juanita Dugger was also part of the ceremony.

Guest speaker Wayne Wilkerson, a Purple Heart combat veteran provided the keynote address.

Wilkerson said seeing soldiers die in his arms provided the motivation he needed to be a part of these events every year.

“I have had soldiers die in my arms,” he said during an interview before the ceremony. “I’ve looked at legs of soldiers that have lost limbs, and I consider it an honor to be here too, and in some way to represent them and to honor them.”

Wilkerson also said Memorial Day was of special significance because a close friend had died during Memorial Day weekend in Vietnam.

“And so I remember him virtually every day, but especially during this time of the year,” he said.

Wilkerson said his friend Mitch Barnes from Columbia, Tennessee, was another soldier that shared the love of country music.

“We would pull guard duty together. And the radio station was KFT in Vietnam. We would pull guard duty together early in the morning; because we both liked country music,” Wilkerson said.

The two soldiers also made a solemn pact.

“We made a pact that if one of us survived, and the other one did not, we would come back and pour beer over their grave. As soon as I found out that he had passed, I’d already gotten back from Vietnam,” Wilkerson said. “I drove all the way from Orlando, Florida, to Columbia, Tennessee to honor his wish, and our pact more or less. And then on the 50th anniversary, I drove back to Columbia, Tennessee, to do it again. And I do it again if I’m still around then.”

After the key address, the SEMO Veterans Honor Guard gave a military gun salute while playing taps on a bugle. It’s a tradition the honor guard has been performing for more than 20 years.

“Memorial Day is so easy to forget,” said SEMO Veteran Honor Guard member Doug Wucik. “That’s why we are here. The comradeship with all veterans, you know, it is quite an exclusive club.”

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