When a soldier dies overseas, they don’t have the benefit of loved ones being with them in their final moments.
During Monday’s Columbus and Bartholomew County Community Memorial Day Service, the woman who read the names of 265 recently-deceased local veterans observed that many of us have been kept apart from loved ones as they’ve left this Earth over the past year and a half.
“With COVID-19, funerals as we knew it did not exist for a solid year,” said Derika Arnholt of Myers Funeral Home. “Usually, where there is a loss, you need to be together with the ones you love. But for a year, people had to endure their losses without that comfort.”
Speaking to nearly 200 people at the Bartholomew County Memorial of Veterans, Arnholt said she was thankful that, after 18 months of death, isolation and separation, “we can finally be here together to remember.”
A new tradition
There were some changes to the annual Memorial Day service from previous years.
For example, the balloon release was moved up to this past holiday weekend from Veteran’s Day. As each name of a local veteran who has died since Nov. 11, 2019 is read by Arnholt, a helium-filled balloon was released in their honor.
While the balloon release has often been accompanied by the playing of John Williams’ “Hymn To The Fallen,” an equally appropriate composition — the theme song from the television series “Band of Brothers” by Michael Kamen — could be heard as the names were read on Monday.
Among the well-known veterans whose were honored during the remembrance were businessman and lifelong 4-H supporter Charles “Red” Whittington (died Jan 6, 2020); former community leader and county commissioner Byron “Barney” Carr (died July 1, 2020); school administrator Willis Hagan (died July 9, 2020); and educator Bill Mihay (died Dec 11, 2020).
The name of 38-year veteran lawman Robbie Amos, who died April 3, 2020, was also announced. Amos was one of the first local COVID-19 deaths that was announced to the public.
While names were read and balloons were released, many spectators appeared to be in deep thought; likely remembering former servicemen, servicewomen and the loved ones who are no longer with them.
For example Jim Newell of Columbus said he saw balloons released for both his father and father-in-law.
In two of the three Memorial Day ceremonies held in Columbus Monday, speakers addressed what they described as today’s divisive times.
Vietnam War veteran Bob Miller said Americans have become so polarized that “it has become tragic.” But Miller also said he believes services like the ones held Monday help reestablish communication between those with different ideological and political viewpoints.
“We have to be figure out how to talk to one another again,” he said. “How do you make any progress if you don’t listen to the other person?”
During each of the three ceremonies, fallen soldiers and veterans were honored by a 21-gun salute, followed by the playing of “Taps.”
Earlier services
Nearly 30 people attended the 9 a.m. ceremony on the Robert N. Stewart Bridge that overlooks the East Fork White River in downtown Columbus. This annual service is organized by members of the auxiliaries of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign War organizations
During this remembrance, rose petals are handed out to be thrown into the water to commemorate Navy personnel buried at sea.
“I just wish that we dedicated more to them,” said Edna Hilderbrand, the widow of Charles Hilderbrand, Sr. “I don’t know what I would have done without my husband. But I’m doing my best for him and everybody.”
Her husband, who served three tours in Vietnam, eventually died from complications caused by exposure to Agent Orange, she said.
Another person in attendance was Deb Kleinschmidt of Columbus, the mother of Marine Sgt. Jeremy McQueary, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2010. For several years, she has been prominent in the Gold Star Mothers organization, a nonprofit organization of American mothers who lost sons or daughters in service of the United States Armed Forces.
But Kleinschmidt said she threw rose petals off the bridge on behalf of a friend: a rural Sellersburg woman who lost her son, a Marine, at sea. He was one of several Marines who jumped into the ocean when their helicopter was about to crash, but only one person survived the ordeal, she said.
“My friend’s son was never found,” Kleinschmidt said. “That’s why I like this ceremony. I feel like I’m throwing the petals out to him.”
At 10 a.m. Monday, almost 60 individuals attended a tribute and remembrance at Garland Brook Cemetery, where more than 3,000 veterans are buried. As attendees arrived, they saw American flags marking the graves of each veteran in the section that were put up days earlier by volunteers.
While the Garland Brook event is often said to be more religious in substance, Sgt. Major Rick Caldwell of the AMVETS organization said it’s also designed for those who need to express themselves.
One of those in attendance was Michael Sisk, who wore clothes resembling the American flag and carried a banner stating “Stand For the Flag, Kneel For The Cross.”
Sisk said he was attending the services to honor his father, a Korean War veteran, who died 23 years ago.
“It was an honor for him to serve our country and to help give us our freedoms and our rights,” he said.
At Garland Brook, Caldwell announced that veterans groups have been successful with passing state legislation that will allow “Honor and Remember” flags to be flown on all government buildings below the American flag.
