Mid-Del honors Memorial Day
Del City VFW and American Legion held a Memorial Day service on Monday at Sunnylane Cemetery. Photo by Jeff Harrison
By Maxine Wheelan
and Jeff Harrison
Residents in Midwest City and Del City honored those who lost their life in service of their country with Memorial Day services on Monday.
Veteran groups held events at Sunnylane Cemetery in Del City, and Arlington Memory Gardens in Midwest City and Kolb Cemetery in Oklahoma City.
Midwest City
Each year it is the tradition of the Midwest City Clarence L. Tinker American Legion Auxiliary, Post 170 to see that many veterans are honored in the Arlington Memory Gardens by placing more than 5,000 American flags at their graves.
Jim Street, ex Board Member and WW2 Vet, Commander Rickey Compala, Sr. and Past Commander Rick Doty were present to assist in seeing the placing of the flags by the volunteers. The Choctaw, Nicoma Park Troop 279 and Tinker 752 OSS, American Legion Auxiliary and sons of American Legion Auxiliary all volunteers, were very busy with getting the flags placed.
On Monday morning, a Memorial Day service was held in the chapel at the cemetery, conducted by members of the American Legion.
Commander Rickey Compala Sr. thanked everyone for attending this 65th Memorial Service by the American Legion at Arlington Memorial Gardens.
Chaplain Rick Doty gave the Invocation, followed by Commander Compala Leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
Chaplain, Rick Doty read the names of those lost this past year as follows: Afton Larod Morton, Albert Crandall, Billy Lee Alexander, Alfred E. Panek, Robert A. Banker, Eugene F. Brown, Billy Ray Campbell, Carl Franklin Igert, Carroll D. Henderson, Sr., Henry L Collins, Clayton Henry Corrigan, Richard Scott Cowan, Charles I. Epley, Theo Galloway, Gary Tull, Dudley M. Hutcheson, James L. Alexander, John Wayne Simpson, Jimmie Louis Orr, Kenneth W. Kelton, Leeroy H. Henkes, Loran W. McGinnis, Kenneth McAffrey, Paul Samuel McIntire, Sherman Menser, Michael C. Sinz, Karl Edward Miller, Jr., Paul Melton Coker, John Reed, Jr., Ricardo Corriea, Larry Dean Rivers, Robert H. Cross, Leona Sue Robinson, Paul L. Selfridge.
As the names were read, Presley and Sonni Wicker placed Poppies at the crosses for each of them.
The history of how Memorial Day was established was explained by Jon Gagnon. The Benediction was given by Commander Compala and thanks for all those attending. A closing prayer by Chaplain Doty.
Del City
The American Legion Post 73 and VFW Post 9969 held their annual Memorial Day ceremony Monday morning at Sunnylane Cemetery in Del City.
Gary Grantham, VFW Post 9969 commander thanked everyone for coming to honor their fallen brothers and sisters on the holiday originally known as Decoration Day.
The Legion and VFW color guard presented the colors, Ashley Osborn sang the National Anthem and James Martin, American Legion Post 73 Commander, led the saying of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Rep. Andy Fugate delivered the Memorial Day address. He said it is a day to honor a legacy of sacrifice, courage, and unwavering commitment to the ideals that shape our great nation.
“Memorial Day is a solemn reminder of those who gave everything for us, the ones who stood in defense of freedom, knowing that their duty was greater than themselves,” Fugate said.
Fugate said it’s important to remember that these fallen heroes were also family.
“They were fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters,” he said. “They belonged to families who loved them, missed them, and still feel their absence.”
That family extended beyond blood for those who served together in the armed forces.
“When we lose one of our own – we all feel the loss,” Fugate said. “The sacrifice.
The names of veterans who passed away during the past year and those who are honored on the Del City War Memorial were read. A wreath was also placed in front of the memorial.
The service concluded with a 21-gun salute by the joint post color guard, playing of Taps and a closing prayer by Mike Driskill.
Kolb Cemetery
More than 30 volunteers helped place flags on Veteran’s graves at Kolb Cemetery, located near NE 36th St. and Midwest Blvd., Friday morning. Organizations represented included Del City Posts 73 and 9969, MWC VFW Post 7192, Mid-Del Forty and Eight Voiture 1540 and the 137th Air National Guard wing at Will Rogers Airport. The ceremony was held at noon on Memorial Day.
