One Man's Perspective: Taking time to honor

Last Monday, we celebrated Memorial Day by honoring those who fought for this country and have since left this earth to receive their Heavenly rewards.

Some of us chose to celebrate by actually attending a Memorial Day service, an hour-plus show of respect for those who have endured and given so much. It also is an opportunity to honor those family members who are left behind, who too, endured and suffered during times of war and peace.

Other chose to honor our fallen heroes by taking a boat ride at the lake, or a bike ride on the trails or by firing up the grill for some burgers and dogs with family and friends.

I have to admit folks, attendance at the service was a bit weak.

And on top of all the traditional reverence shown at a Memorial Day service, this service in particular deserved a bigger crowd to honor the Dean family.

Not that Jerry Dean is any more deserving of honor than anyone else who has served or was being honored on this particular Memorial Day, but because there probably wouldn't be quite as colorful a Memorial Day celebration in Spencer without him.

You see it was his dream that created the Avenue of Flags, lining the grounds of Riverside Cemetery with the beautiful flowing flags of the red, white and blue. And this year, in an especially emotional presentation, Jerry Dean's flag was dedicated and placed alongside all the others that he worked so hard to make sure they would be remembered.

It's the work of Dean and his family members, along with a handful of community volunteers that set those flags out and packed them up for many, many years.

Members of the Dean family and a small group of volunteers battled cold temperatures and a chilly drizzle as they marked the holes for flag placement this year. The large number of flags were placed by many of the same people. Then, while others are applying lotion on a well-earned sun burn, or digesting a tasty cheeseburger, these very same folks returned to the cemetery and took all the flags down.

Yet so few, when you look at the actual number of people we have in this community, could afford that Monday morning hour to pay their proper respect.

In past years, my wife and I have always made a point of attending Memorial Day services, dating back to our years in Rock Valley. They too had a very nice service, but nothing like the Deans, the American Legion and the VFW prepare for the citizens of Spencer and surrounding communities. This year, we brought our younger children because we wanted them to understand what it means to serve and give back to this country.

Did they get it all? Probably not, not entirely. But we've created a habit for them, a habit that hopefully they will remember as they continue to grow up in this community and move out on their own. A habit that suggests, one hour is hardly an even trade out in exchange for the freedoms we enjoy in this country because of the sacrifice made by those we honor on Memorial Day.

Those who didn't attend also missed a great address from State Rep. Mike May, and one of his key points was for those in the audience to remember to honor our soldiers and soldier families now while they're still alive. Honor them now while we still have a chance.

So next year, come Memorial Day, perhaps a few more people can carve out an hour or so, between 10 a.m. and 11:15 a.m., and come on out to Riverside Cemetery to show our fallen soldiers, and those new flags being dedicated the respect that is more than due to them.

Thank you to those who were there honoring our soldiers.

Thank you to those of you who served and are still with us today, your sacrifice honors you.

Thank you to those who lived and loved the members of our service - your sacrifice is greater than any of us can know.

And thank you to those whose days of service have passed. You will be remembered in the freedoms we enjoy on a daily basis.

Next year, at the 46th annual Memorial Day celebration in Spencer, we will see a jump in the attendance, with numbers befitting a city the size of Spencer. A few hundred out of a town of 11,000-plus is a bit disappointing and beneath our ability.