Chamber holds Memorial Day Remembrance

By James Pease II

The Loris Chamber of Commerce held the 6th Annual Memorial Day Remembrance at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 23.

The tribute was held at 3940 Railroad Avenue in Loris.

The remembrance began with the presentation of Colors by American Legion Post 186 Little River, followed with an opening prayer by Councilman Carroll D. Padgett Jr.

The Pledge of Allegiance was directed by Staff Sergeant Denis Riley, U.S. Air Force, of the American Legion Post 41 Loris and Linda Jernigan Small performed the National Anthem.

Loris Mayor Michael Suggs thanked everyone for attending and gave an opening statement. “Each of you gathered here today understand the significance of why we’re here. It’s a solemn time to honor the memory of the everyday American man and woman who answered the call to serve their country. They left their friends, families, jobs to go fight in defense of our nation to preserve the freedoms that each of us enjoy and sometimes regrettably take for granted. You know, they say freedom is not free. It is indeed a precious and costly commodity. The men and women remembered and honored here today paid the ultimate cost. They died to keep our country alive and to ensure freedoms for their families, friends and each person unknown to them who calls themselves an American. Let us remember them today.”

Following Mayor Suggs’s message, David Palomares performed God Bless the USA.

A1C John Fedeles, U.S. Air Force, of American Legion Post 41 Loris gave a brief history on Taps.

“I was born four years after a war and coming into the Korean War. I don’t think there’s a family or a friend in the neighborhood who didn’t have some impact from those wars. You had bodies coming home unfortunately and missing in action were found, brought back and claimed. You’d hear this music in cartoons and movies. Taps was a solemn song and I was always wondering why is my father tearing up. Then I learn why through life. Taps is 24 notes. Going back, the original taps was a French tune that was played for lights out. We used that French bugle call followed by three drum beats.

The drum beats were called taps. Then in July 1862, you had the terrible battles down by Richmond. We call it Seven Days Battles. Close to 150,000 lives were lost between the two armies, Union and Confederate. So General Butterfield lost about 600 men. He wanted to honor them. He calls over his bugler in his brigade. He says he wrote a music staff. He wrote on a piece of paper the notes and said work on this. Something respectful so we can honor our fallen. Oliver Willcox Norton was that bugler’s name and he came up with 24 notes. In 1874, as he’s working on it, other buglers in the encampment start to practice it. Confederates begin to hear it as they aren’t even 30 miles away. Now we’re up to 1874. It’s recognized by the army as a form of song. Then in 1891, it became mandatory for military funerals. That’s when you hear at funerals and services like this that honor the fallen and the missing. They served. We will never forget. So remember those notes when you hear them.”

Lieutenant Scott Graustein, U.S. Navy, was the keynote speaker for the event and talked about his father and his military history.

“My father was in the military. My grandfather served in World War II. I had four uncles who were in the Army. My stepfather was in the army. All my sons served, one in the Army, the other two, apparently sharper than him, were in the Navy. And two daughter-in-laws, one was in the Navy and one was in the Army. I’m sure sometime during this weekend, somebody is going to thank them for their service and that’ll be great. But we got a day in November for them and for me. This one is about those who can’t. My father was a Navy pilot and was shot down over North Vietnam on December 21, 1972. They were listed as missing in action and their remains were returned in 1985 and officially identified in 1986. At that time I was a midshipman in the ROC and the Navy honored me to allow me to be his escort. My father was a lieutenant commander at the time he was shot down. He was a Navy pilot. He had done two previous deployments to Southeast Asia in 1965 and 1967. When my father’s remains were and they were identified, I remember I was in college at the time and my mother called me and said, “You better sit down.” It just so happened to coincide that his body was returned and we had a memorial service because he was administratively declared dead in 1975. When his body was returned, we were going to have a funeral and it just so happened to coincide with Memorial Day that year.”

Staff Sergeant Denis Riley, U.S. Air Force, of the American Legion Post 41 Loris directed the setting of the wreath and was followed with a moment of silence.

The ceremony was concluded with a 21 gun salute, Taps and a few closing comments by Kevin A. Braswell with Twin City Memorial Gardens.

“We’d like to thank each and everyone who had a part in making this remembrance ceremony possible. I ask that you remember that it’s not happy Memorial Day for some. Think about taps. For some, whenever they hear taps, it takes them back in time to their loss. I’m sure they remember vividly when the news came. For those of us not affected personally by these tragic losses, one way we can remember and honor the fallen is to think about those families next time we hear taps. Next time we’re at a military funeral or we’re at a service like this, think about those that their lives were changed in a moment. Be grateful for those who are willing to die for our freedoms.“