Polk Township 20th Memorial Day ceremony drew a crowd in excess of 100 people at Salem St. Paul Lutheran Church to honor local residents who served in the armed forces, giving their lives for the good of the nation.

Brenda Drew began by reading the story of her brother, Pfc. David R. Bartholomew, who served in the Army during the Vietnam War. Bartholomew lost his life in 1968 shortly after touching down in the Binh Do'ung province, but not before pulling several wounded soldiers to safety, in complete disregard for his own, under heavy gunfire."Twenty years ago, this Community War Memorial was dedicated by our family in memory of Davey and in memory of all soldiers lost in action. Brick by brick, stone by stone, the area took shape and includes names of local, fallen soldiers," Drew said.Following Drew's welcoming, Boy Scout Troop 98 members Ethan Bauman, Justin Drennan, and Eric Reagle conducted the presentation of colors. Scott Meckes of Troop 102 led the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the singing of the national anthem by Brianna Cicalese, with Henry Liu on keyboard.After an invocation from Jablonski, supervisor Carl S. Heckman thanked the veterans committee- including Blanche Strausberger, Joan McKinsey, Connie Haydt, Sally Jablonski, and Ruthanne Toner - along with the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, speakers and volunteers who made the memorial possible.Speakers included retired Navy Lieutenant David L. Christy, retired Navy Rear Admiral Joseph A. Horn Jr., and retired Marine Corp Lieutenant Richard C. Zilmer. Each man recounted a personal story of life and loss in the service, striking a chord in the crowd."We all gave some, some of us, like Barry, gave more, but those who didn't return gave all," Christy said.Horn gave accounts of those he had known throughout his life who gave their own, including a former Cub Scout Den Leader's son who passed in Vietnam, and the shipmate of a fellow officer who died during the Pentagon attack on Sept. 11."These two men are but a slice of the tremendous collection of heroes who have paid a huge sacrifice so that we could enjoy the life we have today. From Lexington and Concord, up through today, we should thank God for the men and women of their caliber who have continually stepped forward to wear the cloth of their nation, and fight and win on its behalf, sometimes at great sacrifice," Horn said.Zilmer recalled the story of his own Personal Security Officer, Sgt. Daniel Hansen, and his incredible but all too short time in the service. A Camp David Marine, just like Zilmer, Hansen was die-hard and diligent in every duty he undertook. After Hansen re-enlisted and became an explosive ordinance technician."I saw him for the last time in 2008, as he was getting ready to go back to Afghanistan. We sat, we talked, we caught up on old times. The following February, he was killed in service to his Marines in Afghanistan. I talked with Dan's twin brother, Matt, today, and tomorrow I will reach out to his mother and his father, and I will make sure his memory is as alive today, as it was in 2008. That's what I challenge each and every one of you to do today - remember. Remember the people we are here to honor," Zilmer said.The highlight of the program, the Memorial Roll Call, featured McKinsey reading the names of those who gave their lives in service, with Scouts presenting roses to their loved ones as a token of thanks. Widows, sons, daughters, siblings, and friends stood in crowd as their loved ones' names were called, and graciously accepted flowers before taking their seats. Quiet tears were present, but often enough they were accompanied by smiles of remembrance.Vietnam Army veterans Barry Schaeffer and Robert Coleman, accompanied by the Scouts, laid the ceremonial wreath at the memorial monument.Eagle Scout Raymond Pasqua, Troop 98, read the John A. Rinker poem "Whitey" in honor of Bartholomew."He has won personal peace thru his great sacrifice, pray that others won't pay at such a high price; May the good Lord grant that peace will soon reign, and what "Whitey" died for will not be in vain," Pasqua read.McKinsey continued the ceremony with a military roll call to honor veterans and current service members, with Scouts distributing red and white carnations those in attendance."It was wonderful," Army veteran Pasquale Coppola, who served during the Korean War, said. "Warm, sad, happy, everything mixed together. Honoring the soldiers killed there, the veterans, so on and so forth, it was put together very nicely."Jonathan Klein of Troop 109 read the poem "To Them We Owe," a short but moving reminder of the cost of the freedoms we enjoy."Happened today, and in the past; Sacrifice made, for ours to last. Wives to widows, families torn; Gave their life, for them we mourn. Gone forever, souls are lost; Freedom comes, with this cost. Enjoy the life, they did preserve; Fate they suffered, did not deserve. On this day, lest we forget; To them we owe, our life in debt," he read.The ceremony closed with taps performed by George Moretz, a moment of silence, a benediction from Jablonski, and the retiring of the colors by Boy Scout Troop 98.Gloria Lloyd, who lost her husband, Army 1st Cavalry Thomas Carney, nearly 51 years ago, was touched by the ceremony, and the respect paid to those who made the ultimate sacrifice through service."I thought it was awesome, very moving. I have three children, and they were very young when he passed away. It was very moving, and they still remember," Lloyd said. "I thought this was wonderful. My nephew even came over and paid homage to me. It was awesome, it was good."