By Stephen Smoot
On a cold clear day with little breeze and thankfully, no interfering weather, dozens of men and women, ages ranging from babies to seniors, made their way to Mount Olivet Cemetery in Moorefield.
The ceremony took place on land that, from the American military point of view, is hallowed ground. Not many cemeteries occupy the same positions as artillery fired in battle. So many lifetimes ago, Union soldiers and their Confederate States counterparts exchanged fire during a battle for the Town of Moorefield in the battle bearing that name.
And, judging from the number of Confederate States military and national flags waving by gravesites there, many who fought on opposing sides in life lay side by side in rest – their bodies, Union and Confederate, at rest in the earth, their souls in peace with God.
Sacrifice for one’s country for the right reasons is always a profound act and is the reason for the day. It is both the sacrifice and the service of United States military veterans from all wars and conflicts that the laying of the wreaths represented on this day.
Men from the area who served on both sides of that conflict rested nearby as the American Legion set to honor all United States military service veterans with a wreath laying ceremony.
It opened at 12:30, postponed 30 minutes out of respect for a funeral service.
Commander Michael Coby took the podium to lead all present in the Pledge of Allegiance. Every hand went in respectful salute, whether the civilian over the heart or the military at the forehead. After the recitation of the Pledge came the National Anthem. Though several children of toddler age and younger attended, each took the silent cue from adults and made not a peep of sound during the Star Spangled Banner.
Then came the keynote address from Pastor Daniel Taylor, a United States Army veteran from American Legion Post 64.
“Wreaths Across America takes place in all 50 states, territories . . . all US servicemen’s cemeteries overseas . . . honoring our heroes wherever they may rest” Pastor Taylor informed the crowd of participants and attendees.
Because of the service and sacrifice of America’s military men and women, “we can worship any way we see fit. We can raise our children to share the values we have.” He went on to state that “the United States of America was founded on the ideals of freedom, justice, and equality.”
“We thank them,” said Pastor Taylor, “those who gave their lives to keep us free. We shall never forget you . . . many of you here today have answered the call and served our country well. . . . We are honored to know you.”
Some of those service members appeared to lay wreaths to honor each service branch, as well as those who never made it home. The wreaths were simple evergreen, decorated with a red ribbon and also a United States flag.
Chris Jenkins laid the wreath for “those who served, or who are serving in” the United States Army, Ken Brantsky the United States Marines, Robert Cross the United States Navy, Mark Onheiser the United States Air Force, Mike Covey the United States Space Force, Charlie Davis the United States Coast Guard, Leon Wolfe, the United States Merchant Marine.
Joe Delawder bore the special, final wreath that remembered the “80,000 from all branches . . . prisoners of war or missing in action, who never returned to their families. We shall not forget you.”
After the laying of wreaths for each service branch, attendees turned their attention to a large number placed on the ground. Some represented individual soldiers and others for families with service traditions.
Pastor Taylor and Commander Coby both underscored an important point. Sacrifices made in the past for Americans to enjoy their natural rights and liberties do not ensure their permanence. Pastor Taylor shared that freedom “must be fought for, protected, and handed on.” That includes teaching the virtue of military service and stepping up to the duty of service.
Should American children lose the understanding of that virtue, not nearly enough will step forward as adults to bear the honor and burden of military service. Those who spoke shared that educating and inspiring the next generation was an important part of holding these ceremonies. They are not to simply honor the past, but to also inspire the future as well.
Pastor Taylor provided a warning articulated decades ago by President Ronald Wilson Reagan. The 40th President once stated that “freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.”
American servicemen, and for Hardy County and all of West Virginia, that predates the formation of the United States itself, are the main line of defense preserving America’s enjoyment of natural rights and freedoms.
