Remembering those who served

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Ann Bryant/Sun Journal

Three members of the Sandy River Young Marines wait to participate in a Fallen Soldier presentation at the Veterans Day service Wednesday at Wal-Mart in Farmington. 

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Ann Bryant/Sun Journal

During a Fallen Soldier presentation at the Veterans Day service Wednesday at Wal-Mart in Farmington, Sandy River Young Marines came forward with symbols of the fallen soldier while Don Simoneau of Fayette read the meaning of each. Items included a rifle, helmet, boots, flag, roses and a small stuffed bear representing the children who have lost parents while they were serving the country.

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Ann Bryant/Sun Journal

During a Fallen Soldier presentation at the Veterans Day service Wednesday at Wal-Mart in Farmington, Sandy River Young Marines came forward with symbols of the fallen soldier while Don Simoneau of Fayette read the meaning of each. Items included a rifle, helmet, boots, flag, roses and a small stuffed bear representing the children who have lost parents while they were serving the country.

Buy a Print

Ann Bryant/Sun Journal

During a Fallen Soldier presentation at the Veterans Day service Wednesday at Wal-Mart in Farmington, Sandy River Young Marines came forward with symbols of the fallen soldier as Don Simoneau of Fayette read the meaning of each. Items included a rifle, helmet, boots, flag, roses, and a small stuffed bear representing the children who have lost parents while they were serving the country.

FARMINGTON — Veterans, family members and Young Marines gathered Wednesday around the flagpole at Wal-Mart to remember and honor members of the armed forces.

"Veterans come from all walks of life," Lt. Col. Michael Backus told the Veterans Day gathering. "Pray for them and reach out to veterans. Say hello, send a card, say, 'Thank you for your service.'"

Armistice Day began as a way to honor veterans of the 1918 Great War, World War I, and became a federal holiday in 1938, Backus said. A move began in 1954 to expand the day to honor veterans from other wars. President Dwight Eisenhower proclaimed it Veterans Day. Now, 55 years later, we honor the past, present, young and old, all who have sacrificed for this country, Backus said.

The Sandy River Young Marines stood patiently waiting to participate in a Fallen Soldier program with members of the American Legion Post 28, with which they are affiliated.

Don Simoneau of Fayette saw the Fallen Soldier enacted in Indianapolis, he said, and it touched him as he hoped it would those who gathered. The program pays respect to all members of the armed forces and reminds all that freedom is not free. There is a great cost, he said.

As Simoneau read a list of items related to a fallen soldier and explained what each represented, each Young Marine came forward to place the item around a stand and salute. The rifle represents a weapon used to fight and protect freedoms, Simoneau said. The helmet is used to protect but is no longer needed.

He continued through items such as dog tags, boots, the flag, a wreath, roses, barbed wire for those held captive and a small white teddy bear for the purity of children who won’t see their parents again, he said.

State Sen. Peter Mills, R-Cornville, a Vietnam veteran, also encouraged participants to find someone who may have been wounded, physically or emotionally by war, single them out and say thank you.

Three women from Freeport, who stand on Freeport streets every Tuesday waving the flag, raised Old Glory.

Bagpiper Bob Underwood rendered a patriotic song and Sammie Angel of Dixfield sang several songs.

abryant@sunjournal.com