Fallen soldiers honored at area Memorial Day events

Southeast Missouri communities united Monday in remembrance of military personnel who died for their country.

"This is a somber day for America, but it is an important day," said congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson as she addressed about 160 people attending a Memorial Day service at Jackson City Cemetery. "Communities are remembering the patriots who laid down their lives for freedom."

The Jackson event, one of several held in the region, kicked off around 9 a.m., when the Jackson Municipal Band set the mood with patriotic tunes.

Kenny Bender, who was a heavily decorated gunner on a B-29 Superfortress during World War II, brought listeners to tears as he described flights over Japan near the end of the war. Bender completed 22 combat missions over Japan. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, three Air Medals, two Bronze Stars and two Presidential citations.

After the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, the crew he was on was chosen for a special mission.

"We felt honored to be the plane chosen to take pictures of Nagasaki," he said.

But the vast destruction was horrifying, he said.

Later, his crew flew crates of beer, food and supplies into Japan and dropped them into what had been prisoner-of-war camps.

"Seeing the prisoners open the crates was one of the best feelings of the war," he said. Then he remembered his friends left behind. "I was one of the lucky ones to come home from the war."

Shortly after the event concluded in Jackson, a service was held in Cape Girardeau, this one in the air-conditioned Osage Centre at 1625 N. Kingshighway.

About 500 people listened to marches performed by the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band. Nearly a dozen residents of the Missouri Veterans Home, sitting in the front row of the auditorium, shared stories with people who thanked them for their service to the country.

The speaker, retired U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Sr. of Cape Girardeau, told listeners the sacrifices made to preserve freedom started with the nation's founding fathers. He said the 56 men who signed their names to the Declaration of Independence pledged their minds, money and honor to gain rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

"All of them lost most of their possessions," Limbaugh said. "But not one defected. They stuck to their guns."

Before the Jackson memorial celebration started, Tracey Smith of Jackson sat with two of her children in the shade provided by trees along the edge of the cemetery. Another of her children played music in the Jackson Municipal Band.

"I think it's good for the kids to come out and see the veterans, to think about what today means," she said.

Marlene Lindman of Jackson said she has a son who recently earned a college degree, then served in the Peace Corps. She said he will join the Marines in January.

The holiday shines a light on the cost citizens pay to be Americans.

Lindman said numerous members of her family fought in war. Patriotism is the deepest form of devotion to America, she said.

The memories of U.S. soldiers who died fighting for freedom aren't restricted to Americans, Emerson said. People in France, Vietnam, Croatia, Iraq and elsewhere are holding memorials for fallen U.S. military personnel, she said.

"Foreign peoples are remembering the hundreds of thousands of Americans who laid down their lives," Emerson said. "They were the best essence of our communities here at home. They are and forever will be the deepest inspiration."

Roy Rhodes, who served in the U.S. Army from 1961 to 1968, is easy to spot at veterans' events. In honor of American soldiers who are listed as missing in action or prisoners of war, he wears a black military uniform trimmed in white, his white, neatly trimmed beard lying against his chest. His black boots shine as he holds a POW/MIA flag.

"As long as I can remember, I've been doing this," Rhodes said. "Most people don't realize there are all these people missing. There are about 80,000 still missing from World War II, Korea and Vietnam."

jgamm@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address:

South High Street, Jackson, MO

1625 N. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, MO