On Memorial Day, pausing to remember

MANSFIELD – Land of the free, home of the brave. 

These words are engrained in the minds of Americans all across the country. They are sung with varying levels of flourish before any major sporting event. And they are always honored with heads bowed and hands over hearts. 

On Memorial Day, these sacred words took on special meaning as people all across Richland County paused to remember all veterans lost at Mansfield’s annual Memorial Day observance. 

The day began with the annual Memorial Day parade, beginning at Marion Avenue and marching all the way to the square in downtown Mansfield. 

Approximately 40 units marched in the parade this year, including marching bands from Mansfield Senior High School, St. Peter’s High School and Madison High School. The parade also featured the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, an assortment of fire and police vehicles and military equipment, and many area veterans.

One veteran in particular marching in the parade held the American flag high as he saluted veterans watching the parade. This man was WWII veteran Jack Cowell, who is over 90 years old and still marches every year, proudly carrying the flag. 

Following the parade, a special ceremony in remembrance of Richland County’s veterans was held in the Central Park Gazebo. The ceremony began with the raising of the flag by the Disabled American Veterans Mansfield Chapter 21, followed by the singing of the National Anthem by John Darby and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Commandant Burk W. Jisa. 

Following in Memorial Day tradition, the Fun Center Chordsmen performed a variety of patriotic song selections. The most popular song of the day was a medley of military songs, representing each branch. As their branch’s song was sung, veterans young and old stood and snapped off a salute, just as sharp as it was when they first joined the service.

The speaker of the day was WWII hero Norman Johnson, who at 90 years old reminded the crowd of the reason for the day. 

“Memorial Day is not a day to say goodbye,” he said. “It is a reminder we are entrusted with the memories of our fallen comrades.” 

Johnson spoke of the power of prayer, and the role that God plays in the lives of all solders. No one except military persons knows the quiet moments spent in prayer in the service, he said, even the gruff commanding officers. 

As the American flag waved in the breeze, Johnson made mention of the three distinct colors – white to represent purity, blue to represent pride, and red to represent the blood shed to protect our country’s freedom. 

“Service is the nation’s highest form of praise to honor our constitution,” Johnson said. “Our duty as Americans is to make sure that service does not go unnoticed. To honor those who died for our country is not only proper, but deserved.” 

The Joint Veterans Burial Squad fired three shots down Park Avenue to remember those veterans lost, and the square fell silent as the somber notes of Taps echoed in the air.

Johnson ended his remarks with an emotional declaration, drawing the loudest applause of the day. 

“Memorial Day is a day to rekindle our own pride,” he said. “We live in the greatest nation on the face of the earth.”