TUESDAY, MAY 29, 2001
A day to remember veterans who gave their lives
Greta Hale
Staff Writer
It's not often that you see four jets flying overhead, men driving miniature motorcycles, girls twirling batons, high school students playing music and bikers riding Harley-Davidsons all in the same place.
On Monday, an interesting mix of people marched through the streets of Tiffin to honor those who allowed them the freedom to pursue their differing hobbies: the veterans.
One float reminded the crowd of the high cost of that freedom. "Freedom is not free," read a sign on the Korean War float, created by the AMVETS.
Freedom and courage were themes of the ceremony that was held at the end of the parade at Monument Square at Frost Drive.
"This freedom was not easy or cheap," said County Commissioner Kenneth Estep, speaking at the ceremony. "Freedom has come at a great cost. Thank you past and present veterans for all you have done for America."
Tiffinite Joe Buckley, a Marine in World War II, talked about the courage of all veterans.
"Young men &emdash; some mere boys -- they saw a duty to perform and they had the courage to do that duty and, by God, they won," Buckley said.
Buckley talked about veterans of all wars and described the sad situation for Vietnam veterans as they returned home from war.
"God bless them, those Vietnam guys, those who became ensnared in a protracted 10-year struggle, who performed brilliantly in a battle but saw their efforts attenuated by their own compatriots" at home, Buckley said.
In contrast, World War II veterans were welcomed home with open arms, Buckley said.
"Government statistics indicate that World War II veterans are leaving us at a rate of 1,000 a day," Buckley said.
Mayor Bernie Hohman said Memorial Day is a day when we should recognize veterans who served their country "without the thought of personal sacrifice and danger."
Buckley described the horror veterans experienced during war.
"Wars are planned by old men but young men are sent to do battle and die," he said. "Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman, who knew war as few men have ever known it, said 'War is barbarism. Its glory is all moonshine. War is hell.' "
Buckley was happy so many Tiffin residents were showing respect to veterans. Driving through town Monday morning, Buckley said he was "overwhelmed, thrilled and flabbergasted" by the crowds of people waiting for the parade.
Another speaker was disappointed by the way the American flag was being flown improperly at residences in Tiffin.
Harold Lehman did a presentation of flag etiquette. He showed the proper ways to fly the U.S. flag.
"To a veteran, it is very disturbing to see a flag displayed in a way that is improper," Lehman said.
Driving though Tiffin on Monday, Lehman saw 12 flags, and only one was displayed properly, at half-staff before noon on Memorial Day, he said. He wants to see all U.S. flags in Tiffin displayed properly, he said.
After the ceremony, a breakfast was served from an Army field kitchen on Monroe Street north of the monument. It was provided by Tiffin's Army Reserve unit.
The field kitchen is exactly what soldiers would eat out of in war time, said reserve members John Launder and Richard Garn.
Soldiers are given at least one hot meal a day, usually breakfast, they said. The breakfast served at the Memorial Day field kitchen included eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, potatoes, orange juice and coffee.