Veteran’s involvement will be remembered

On a recent unseasonably warm, albeit windy Friday afternoon, in a cemetery south of Redkey, it came to pass.

You see, for 35 consecutive years now, every Memorial Day, 

I've had the honor and privilege of participating in Redkey's annual Memorial Day ceremonies.

At first, I just fell in with the squad of riflemen or color guard as needed, along with the rest of the veterans.

Our line was comprised of World War II, Korea, Vietnam and Gulf War-era veterans, among others. 

After a few years of simply participating, it became my duty to be the public speaker for our group.

From the very first year I addressed the gathered public, up until this past Memorial Day, I always would remind and insist that all of our attendees to really seek out and take the time to get the stories of any World War II veterans in their families, because we were going to live to see the day when we would no longer have any of them left.

Then, I would always point out and give a moment of honor to any World War II veterans we had in attendance.

Thankfully, up until Memorial Day in May 2024, I always had at least one who still faithfully attended every year, and had never missed a year during my years of participation.

Our final Redkey World War II veteran was aged 99 on Memorial Day of 2024.

He turned 100 in November.

He served in World War II in Gen. George Patton's army in both North Africa and Sicily.

He returned home and lived a long and productive life.

He was a personal friend and mentor to me as a youthful American Legion Post commander almost 30 years ago.

Yes, the day finally came.

On a windy day last month, we laid our final Redkey American Legion World War II veteran to rest next to his late wife in Hillcrest Cemetery south of Redkey.

Goodbye, Herb Heston. 

I knew this day would come.

I'm honored to have known you.

As long as I am physically able, your sacrifice and service, along with all of your generation of World War II veterans will not be allowed to fade into obscurity on Memorial Day, or any other day.