By Stephen Smoot
Memorial Day morning in Pendleton County began with a steely gray sky, cool to cold breeze, and threat of storms, weather not unlike conditions that worried Dwight D. Eisenhower 80 years ago in the days leading up to the Normandy landing.
A constant breeze kept the American, the State of West Virginia, the POW-MIA, and VFW Post 9666’s flags fluttering.
At Sugar Grove’s Richard Homan Park, veterans and their families, including children, gathered to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to defend freedom.
Many present had also experienced the presentation about Pendleton County battle deaths the previous day, given by Brenna Mitchell from the Pendleton County Historical Society. On this day, Mitchell also attended the Memorial Day ceremony to honor those who sacrificed while serving.
All gathered under the shelter of the pavilion at 11 a.m. George Armstrong opened the ceremony, saying, “God bless you all for coming. I’m glad we have a crowd today.” He expressed appreciation for Mitchell’s presentation, saying, “Brenna, thank you very much . . . everyone thoroughly enjoyed that.”
Armstrong also implored to those present “let’s not forget to show our support for those still active . . . on every continent around the world.” He then suggested that showing that support could be as simple as going up to “shake his hand and thank him . . . that’s all these individuals ever expect.”
After Armstrong’s opening remarks, attendees recited the Pledge of Allegiance with veterans giving a military salute while all others placed their hand over their hearts. Phillip Downs then offered the opening prayer, asking, “Our Heavenly Father” to bless those “who give and gave their best” and then concluded with “In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.”
Steven O’Toole, a retired senior master chief, then rose to introduce Richard Ogden, the day’s principal speaker, who hails from Buckhannon. He will soon assume the position of West Virginia Veterans of Foreign Wars commander after years of service in administrative and leadership roles with the organization.
Ogden shared that “it feels like I’m at home,” recounting the number of times he had traveled to the Our Five Boys post. He then shared his frustration with the national mainstream media, saying that “the reason they don’t want to publicize Memorial Day is that it makes people sad. It hurts their feelings.”
He said that if it hurts feelings, then so be it.
Ogden discussed his experience walking on battlefields in northern France, saying, “It amazes me what these men went through.” He then told a story of President Eisenhower giving the Reverend Billy Graham a version of what the military calls a “staff ride.” A staff ride involves an instructor experienced and knowledgeable in battle strategy and tactics giving an expert tour of a battlefield, sharing the most important aspects of how the battle evolved.
Graham later told how Eisenhower would hit a pivotal point of a Union or Confederate decision or movement and say “this is where they got it for us.” The President said the same when performing a similar presentation at Valley Forge. Ogden explained that the President meant that on these spots, the nation’s future was “purchased by the blood of freedom.”
He then discussed how the history, the sacrifice, and the sentiments can stir powerful emotions, then told all “on Memorial Day, tears are authorized.” And then quoted John 15:13, saying, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
“They were called,” he went on to say “they packed their bags and reported for duty” but “not for the love of war.” They “fought for our nation.”
“Render therefore to all their dues,” Ogden shared from Romans 13:7, adding “tribute to those whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.”
Next came the reading of the names of the fallen from Pendleton County in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
After the reading, Downs returned to the podium to give the closing prayer, asking God’s blessing on all servicemen past and present. The laying of the wreath in front of the fluttering flags came next, followed by all standing for the playing of “Taps.”
Attendees then remained together, sharing stories, catching up with old friends, and enjoying a lunch of sandwiches, cole slaw, macaroni salad, chips, and dessert.
And despite warnings from the National Weather Service for rain and thunderstorms most of the day, the sky opened up with a cheerful bright sun, cobalt blue skies, and warmer temperatures.
