The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month was set aside to
honor soldiers who died in World War I, that being the exact time
the war ended in 1918.
The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month was set aside to honor soldiers who died in World War I, that being the exact time the war ended in 1918.
In Morgan Hill the dead are still honored on Nov. 11 but at 9am downtown at the Veterans’ Memorial, Monterey Road and First Street.
As usual dozens – and in these more recent dangerous times – hundreds, of residents gather to pay tribute to those who have fallen and to pray for those who still serve.
And as always, the event is arranged by Vietnam veteran Eddie Bowers, with some help from Mary Ellen Salzano, whose U.S. Marine son, Ethan, has just returned from a tour of duty in Iraq.
Every year a flag is flown in honor of a veteran who died recently. This year it is for Richard Burrows, who served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and lived in Morgan Hill since the age of 5.
Kyle Haines of Shadow Mountain Church will deliver a message and prayer. Gary Chalmers, another Vietnam vet, will read the names of Morgan Hill sons who died in past wars. So far no name from the Iraq war has had to be added, though many residents are serving.
Wreaths will be laid by Eric Tarp and Robert Wilbur and trumpeter Steve Johnson will produce the mournful sound of the bugle call “Taps.”
Eagle Scout candidate Mark Johanson of Troop 730 will have a container at Thursday’s ceremony to collect items including toothbrushes, Ziploc bags, decks of cards, hard candy, letters of support, white cotton socks and packaged jerky to send to troops deployed in Iraq.
Flags purchased by the Morgan Hill American Legion Post 444, under the leadership of Commander George Shebib, will be placed on veteran graves by Joe Romo at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Romo places signs on each grave indicating the veteran’s unit, for example, U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, Vietnam or World War II veteran, if community members want.
Romo hopes to place decals or the stones to identify them more easily in the future, but must get permission from families of vets first.
“I want to take care of the veterans; I’d rather do it to see that it is done,” said Romo, a Morgan Hill resident for more than 40 years.
Flags stay up for two days.
“The flagging will be short and sweet,” said Romo. “I feel great to give something back to the community.
Gwen Johnson contributed to this story.
