GRAFTON, W.Va. — Since the American Revolution, more than one million people have died in combat.
“Here in the hills of West Virginia, we pause on one day a year to remember those who have given their lives in defense of this country,” John E. Whitescarver, treasurer of the West Virginia Memorial Day Committee, said Monday during the 152nd Memorial Day observance at Grafton National Cemetery. “Many of these people never had a chance to live out their lives because many of them were 18, 19 years-old or in their early 20s when they went forward to defend their country, not asking any questions — and today we remember them.”
For many Memorial Day serves as a chance for people to be with family, have picnics and enjoy themselves.
But, Whitescarver said, it is vital that we all take a moment to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
“It is because of the cost of these people who have given their lives, who are buried in these national cemeteries — of which we have two in Taylor County — and have given us a reason to celebrate this day,” he said. “We need to be in a position of reverence as we remember all they have given up.”
USAF Lt. Col. John D. Garvin, assistant professor of Psychology of Leadership at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, served as this year’s guest speaker, sharing the message “We walk every day among heroes.”
In his speech, Garvin quoted U.S. Army Gen. George S. Patton in saying, “We shall not mourn those who have died, rather we should thank God that such men lived.
“While there is truth to this statement, it’s much easier said than done,” he said.
The Nutter Fort native encouraged those in attendance to honor those individuals by sharing their names and stories through conversation, photos and videos.
“We have all suffered loss whether combat related or not, and today, even though we focus special emphasis on those who made the ultimate sacrifice to our country, our emotions run wild,” he said. “As our minds wander in thought of loved ones who have gone before us, I encourage you to share those thoughts, share those memories. And then I pray you find peace, joy and laughter. For the loved ones you are thinking about, even if they may not have made the ultimate sacrifice, in fact they are still heroes.”
This June marks the 75th anniversary of Operation Overload, when U.S. forces landed on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944. In that honor, Parade Marshal Russell Herman Sines was recognized by West Virginia State VFW Commander Trenton Pauley during the ceremony.
Sines, a retired Army Sgt. from the 80th Division in the 317 Infantry, set sail aboard the SS Queen Mary bound for Scotland less than a month after D-Day. He was awarded a bronze medal for bravery while fighting between Kassel and the drive on to Erfurt.
“Many of those people are not with us anymore,” Whitescarver said. “However we are fortunate to have (Sines) with us who fought in Europe during that time. Mr. Russell Sines is a member of ‘The Greatest Generation,’ and I revere those people.”
Garvin flew 193 combat missions in Iraq between 2005 and 2009. On 52 of those, he was escorting his fallen brothers — an honor that he said brought tears to his eyes during each occasion.
“As we visit these solemn grounds today, as others conduct their memorial services across our nation and among the 24 military cemeteries overseas that serve as the final resting place for almost 125,000 Americans, we remember,” he said. “For the millions of service men and women who served and fought alongside our fallen heroes, we thank you. We walk every day among heroes.”