The 24 notes of
”
Taps
”
cut through the hum of slow-passing traffic in downtown Morgan
Hill Thursday morning. Uniformed veterans of wars as far removed as
World War II, gathered to salute the American flag and honor their
fellow Americans who have served in the U.S. military and those who
have died.
The 24 notes of “Taps” cut through the hum of slow-passing traffic in downtown Morgan Hill Thursday morning. Uniformed veterans of wars as far removed as World War II, gathered to salute the American flag and honor their fellow Americans who have served in the U.S. military and those who have died.
“We in this community get to look in our friend’s and neighbor’s faces and say, thank you. Thank you for your service the years you offered for your service to our country and thank for the sacrifices you made for the sake of our country,” said Anita Warner, a pastor from Advent Lutheran Church on Murphy Avenue.
For the last 19 years, Vietnam veteran Eddie Bowers has organized yearly services on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Thursday’s service was his 39th.
“Next Memorial Day is going to be really special – 20 years since we’ve been here,” Bowers said about the Veterans Memorial tucked beneath the tree shade in the median along Monterey Road near First Street.
Steve Johnson, who was a bandsman at Fort Ord from 1968 to 1970, played his bugle to start the ceremony as Bowers raised the American flag and the black POW/MIA banner from the Vietnam era to half-mast.
Dozens of families with children were among the usual assembly of the older generation of grandparents, some were veterans but others simply wanted to pay tribute to U.S. soldiers. Johnson’s 3-month-old granddaughter attended her first Veterans Day service Thursday morning.
“That was special. She got to see Grandpa play,” Johnson said.
Four men from the fourth-degree assembly 2939 Knights of Columbus, a patriotic Catholic organization, stood tall behind the short stone wall at the memorial site. They dressed in the Knights uniform: a bushy, white feathered cap, black uniform, sash and each carried a sword they raised when asked to during the procession.
Two of the Knights and also veterans, Gordon Case a Marine who served from 1959 to 1963 and Enrique Ante a non-commissioned Army officer from 1960 to 1963, were greeted by two young girls from Jackson Elementary School passing out acrostic poems they wrote and decorated in class.
“Jackson School loves veterans!” many children wrote along with red, blue and yellow crayon stars adorning the pieces of paper. The girls thanked Case and Ante for their service.
“Oh look at that Gordon, it’s from your granddaughter, Leah Case,” Ante said. Leah Case was printed at the top of the worksheet, though the girls handed out the poems at random. “Isn’t that wonderful!” Ante said.
Case and Ante laughed a bit, smiled, thanked the girls and told them, “God bless you.”
Nearby was Grant Halliday, 11, who sang with Patriotic Sing music teacher Karen Crane and about 20 other local school children. In 2005, at age 5, Halliday memorized and recited “The Gettysburg Address” at the Veterans Day memorial. Last spring, he did so again for Memorial Day.
“I just wanted to come to honor all the veterans who served our country, and it’s important that we all remember the people who died serving this country,” Halliday said.
Off and on since, he’s sang with Crane’s troupe of patriotic singers who represent several schools in Morgan Hill.
“We have freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press … all of these freedoms. That’s what I like most (about America),” said Halliday, who is home-schooled.
Warner led the crowd in prayer after the conclusion of the children’s recital of “America the Beautiful,” “Those Who Served” and “God Bless America.”
At St. Catherine’s School Thursday afternoon veterans were invited for a prayer service and to admire the Wall of Honor that campus minister Jeannie Smith said brought tears to her eyes. Students were asked to bring in photographs of veterans and their stories, which was transformed into the Wall of Honor.
“It’s good for adults and children alike to share these stories and remember them,” Smith said during Thursday morning’s service.
Grant’s father, Russel Halliday, read the list of names of Morgan Hill veterans who have died and in which wars they served; their names emblazoned on a plaque on the flag pole.
Thursday was the first time John Zaucha attended the downtown ceremony, though his wife Bobbie – whom he met while serving in the Air Force – has made several appearances.
“If you don’t remember the past, you’re doomed to repeat it,” John Zaucha said.
Bobbie was a medic from 1956 to 1958 while John served during the same time. Bobbie stayed after everyone had dispersed Thursday chatting with Bowers. She recalled a time she came to the Veterans Day service and brought an Indian woman whom had just opened a business in downtown.
“She closed her shop and came over here with me. She said it was one of the best times she had. She was so appreciative of being in this great country,” Zaucha said.
