The last Monday in May is set aside for Memorial Day. It is the day that the we honor and pay respect to those who made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our nation and secure the freedoms we enjoy today.
Christopher, Dan, and I went out to three cemeteries to pay our respects.
Christopher and Dan at Dan's father's grave. His father was a WWII Veteran and is buried in the Clinton Cemetery.
The American Legion Post 134, Clearfield, Utah placed a white cross and an American flag on each veterans grave. This flag and cross mark the Grave of Allen D. Udink who was killed in Vietnam on December 29th, 1971. He was a Specialist with the 1st Battalion 6th Infantry and a recipient of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
Here is Christopher walking in the Fort Douglas Military Cemetery. It is in Salt Lake and had a very good gathering of families and others.
Christopher taking a moment to visit a grave site.
Christopher and Dan looking at a marker for Calvary Soldiers who died defending the territory of Utah.
One very interesting thing about Fort Douglas, historically speaking, is that Fort Douglas was a Prisoner of War camp during the First World War and Second World War. The majority of those buried in the Fort Douglas Cemetery are our honored dead dating from the 1860s to the present day.
Also buried very respectfully are men from three other countries and the before mentioned wars. All three countries are now our allies, but when these men passed away they were Enemy Prisoners of War (EPW). Despite that, they were laid to rest in a sacred place, for in death all men are equal.
Here is Christopher visiting the resting place of some 21 German Soldiers, from the Great War (WWI) who are memorialized and buried near this marker.
This is the final resting place of the only Japanese EPW buried at Fort Douglas, Shigeo Shibata, who died on July 31, 1944.
There are a number of German Soldiers buried at Fort Douglas from WWII. This is the final resting place of Karl Schaefer, who died on May 5th 1945. He died two days before Germany Surrendered to the Allies on May 7th, 1945.
The last country that has EPWs buried at Fort Douglas is Italy. Here is the final resting place of Sabastiano Indomenice, who died on June 10th, 1944. He died 4 days after the Normandy landings, D-Day.
I thought it was very respectful and in good taste that each man's country flag was placed on his grave and that for over 65 years, we have maintained their final resting place showing that the past is in the past, but never forgotten.
From the Fort Douglas Cemetery, we traveled to the Salt Lake Cemetery which was rather crowded. Again, the graves were marked with a small American Flag.
Here is Christopher and I in the middle of the Veterans Garden. As you can see, I dressed for the occasion.
Here is the grave of Claud L Fox, who served with the 380th Inf Reg of the 95th Division during WWI. I found his grave awhile back, but I visit him since I am assigned to the 95th Division currently. He would be an original member of the Division which was activated during the First World War.
The final grave we visited, is located at the Salt Lake Cemetery, and it is the final resting place of Sgt. Jesse Allen Blamires, who died in Afghanistan on May 30th, 2007, in the Upper Sangin Valley. Five years to the day that I am adding this post. I did not know him, but found his grave by chance several months back and felt he should be remembered on such a special day. However, I did take the time to learn something about his service and death. He was a crew chief on a CH-47 Helicopter serving with 3rd General Support Aviation BN, 82nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. His helicopter was brought down by Hostile fire. It is listed as- helicopter crash (RPG attack). He perished with his whole crew, they were WO Rodgers, Joshua R., WO Allgaier, Christopher M., Sgt. Hadaway, Brandon E. and SSG Bagwell, Charlie L..
I am thankful to all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and those who served and continue to do so. I am also grateful I was able to go with Dan, who is a Vietnam Veteran and my son. On such days, it is nice to be with those who understand the meaning of the holiday. And as for Christopher, it is my hope where ever he goes in life, he will remember the last Monday in May was set aside for a very special purpose.
