Community gathers for Memorial Day remembrance

American Legion Post 413 hosted a Memorial Day observance at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 27. Normally the event is held on the manicured lawn of the Cook County courthouse, where a veterans’ memorial stands. However, the event was moved indoors on this Memorial Day, to Grandma Ray’s, which serves as the meeting place for the legion.

Grandma Ray’s was crowded with veterans and their families for a short ceremony. Post 413 Commander Bob Mattson welcomed the audience and introduced Pastor Kris Garey of Trinity Lutheran Church. Pastor Garey gave a short prayer.

The welcome was followed by a lovely, traditional rendition of the National Anthem, sung by high school student Amy Carpenter.

Commander Mattson spoke of the importance of remembering and honoring our nation’s fallen. He shared the sad statistics of the numbers of young men and women who have been lost to war. And he shared his personal experience of visiting Fort Snelling, where his father is buried.

Mattson said while there he has had the honor of witnessing a number of military funerals. He spoke of how moving that is to see and added that he was grateful to those who came to this year’s ceremony in Cook County to also honor the sacrifices made by those now buried at Fort Snelling or at cemeteries around the world.

Commander Mattson went on to read the “roll call,” the list of names of veterans with ties to Cook County, who died in the past year. There were some tears as those community members were remembered.

Pastor Garey gave a prayer of closing, a wish for peace. Taps followed, played by buglers Jack Willis and Jonah Schmidt.

The ceremony ended and a luncheon for veterans began, with the Post 413 Auxiliary, providing free lunches for veterans and spouses. They also served a delicious red, white and blue cake to all.

There was talk of the veterans that have been lost. Bob Spry of Grand Marais mentioned an exhibit about veterans with ties to Cook County at the Cook County Historical Society. He said the historical society wants a complete record of all of the veterans of the county and he encouraged veterans to contact the historical society to be listed. Likewise, the families of veterans who have passed on are encouraged to add their family member’s name to the record. For more information on the exhibit, visit the Cook County Historical Society museum at 8 South Broadway in Grand Marais or call 218-387-2883.

WTIP’s Rhonda Silence was at the Memorial Day event and she shares this report.