The coronavirus has caused many things to be cancelled or modified. Memorial Day services were one of those things. To help protect everyone’s health and well-being, breakfasts, and gatherings to remember those that have perished while fighting for our freedoms were cancelled across the state. However, the Clarion Legion Post and the Dows Legion Post couldn’t let this important holiday be forgotten. They found a way to still honor and remember our local fallen heroes. Using the technology of smart phones and the internet, the members of these two posts went virtual.
Together, the two Legion posts and the Clarion VFW created 7 short videos of the various components of a traditional Memorial Day program which included a recitation of the Flanders Field Poem, the POW/MIA Remembrance Ceremony, the reading of the names of those who perished in WWII and Vietnam, two gun salutes and Taps, a Memorial Day prayer, and a short speech. Working with the administrator of the Wright Freedom Rock Facebook Page, the videos were then uploaded for all to see. Friends of the page helped in the effort of advertising by sharing the links to the videos and to the page.
“It was a wonderful joint effort of the three organizations. We had a few conference calls, discussed our sadness and dismay at the thought of not honoring our fellow veterans and this was the result. We just couldn’t let Covid-19 defeat us,” remarked Raejean Chapman, Commander Clarion Legion Post 246. “I was also very pleased with how well it went for our three organizations to work together.”
“I just couldn’t get over how well this turned out. It was a team effort the coordination we had to get this put on. When I listen and watch the videos, it just chokes me up. I wonder if this year it will have a little more impact since they won’t just listen to it and leave,” commented Dows Legion Commander, Bill Chambers.
Grateful citizen, Karen Weld had this to say. “Thanks for the Memorial Day videos on Wright Freedom Rock. The virus can slow us down but not defeat us!”
