Do you have a Memorial Day tradition?
HONORING THEIR SERVICE
Over 20 years ago, I joined the Flasher American Legion Schafer-Boye-Lang Post 69. Every year on Memorial Day, one of the duties of the Flasher American Legion is to honor former service members who are interred at cemeteries in the area.
We conduct Honor Guard ceremonies at 10 cemeteries around Flasher, starting early in the morning at the little cemetery near Fallon, where we honor a Civil War veteran. Next is Freda, Shields, Saint Gertrude, Raleigh and Lark, ending at the four cemeteries at Flasher.
We even take the time to stop and honor a U.S. Air Force pilot who lost his life when his fighter plane crashed in the Dogtooth Hills in 1963.
Everything ends with a delicious noon meal at the Flasher fire hall, sometimes accompanied by a speaker. Sometimes, members who are presented with 50-year Legion certificates get up and talk about their service. It’s a tradition I hope will go on for many more years.
The Flasher post is named Schafer-Boye-Lang in honor of three local boys who lost their lives during World War II. Only one of the service members named is buried at Flasher – Arland Boye, a U.S. Marine who was killed at Iwo Jima during World War II.
Leo Schafer and Herman Lang are buried at the Normandy American Cemetery in France.
Scott Nelson
Mor-Gran-Sou Electric Cooperative
REMEMBERING FAMILY
Memorial Day is special to me as the day when we remember certain people.
There were eight of us, including my parents, and I am the only living person in my family.
My sister, who typed so fast and was so smart, ran a law office. Then there was my brother, who refused a West Point appointment, telling them he could take a tractor apart, but not influence people.
My second brother was an engineer and played football for Kansas State University. He was sent to Iraq under Saddam Hussein’s regime to build a substation and was among those taken hostage. Mohammad Ali negotiated their release, and my brother and Ali became friends, later sending cards back and forth.
My second sister translated the Bible into Navajo with her husband, who was blind, so she did all the writing. She spent 45 years in this occupation. My older brother started seven churches in Idaho and Washington.
The other person I remember is my husband, who had diabetes and lost both legs, but still stayed fairly cheerful.
So these are the people I remember on Memorial Day. I can’t think of a better way to describe Memorial Day than to tell about people you love who are now gone.
Joan Jones
Former member of Dakota Valley Electric Cooperative
HONORING THEIR SACRIFICE
Our Memorial Day tradition has remained the same through the years. Our first stop was always visiting the graves of deceased family, friends and veterans to place flags and poppies on their graves.
The next stop was to Donnybrook for the Clarence McCormack Legion Post 195 Memorial Day service. Sometimes we helped with poppies or flag-bearing duties. After the program, we helped the auxiliary serve the attendees a meal that was always delicious and plentiful.
This tradition has been continued with our children and their families.
Some gave all, and all gave some. God bless their sacrifice. It is a good day to remember.
Kathy Binde
Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative
UPCOMING READER REPLY QUESTIONS
June: Describe the best summer of your life.
Deadline for submission: May 11
July: As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday, what is North Dakota’s greatest contribution to the rest of the country?
Deadline for submission: June 11
Published replies pay $25. Email to ndliving@ndarec.com or mail to READER REPLY, North Dakota Living, P.O. Box 727, Mandan, ND 58554-0727.
