Local American Legions Honor Fallen Brothers and Sisters

By ETV News Staff

Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, is a day of mourning for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. The day is also a day of observance for United States Military members who perished, while serving their country.

Each year, the local American Legions travel to each cemetery to honor their brothers and sisters with a three-volley salute. Prior to the beginning of the ceremony, members of the American Legion lower the United States flag to half-staff as a symbol of respect, honor and mourning.

Price American Legion Post 3 Commander, Les Schultz, was the speaker for the day’s ceremonies in Carbon County.

“As we stand on this hallowed ground and look at the rows of flags that mark our fallen and deceased veterans, we first realize we are not here forever, but also that they and the veterans here today have done a great thing,” Schultz stated.

Tradition holds that shots of the three-volley salute are to be shot towards the west. The Price American Legion was joined by Carbon County Royalty and a few members of the Scouts.

In Emery County, American Legion Post #39 began the day by conducting a Rifle Gun Salute at the Orangeville Cemetery at 10 a.m. Nine Legionnaires and bugler followed the commands of Post Commander Mack Huntington in giving the salute. Following the gun salute, William Frisbee played the traditional taps on the bugle as everyone stood with their hands over their heart or in salute.

Frisbee, though not a military man and was unable to enter for health reasons, has volunteered for over ten years to bring his trumpet, greatly adding to the Gun Salute.

Castle Dale Cemetery was next to witness the Gun Salute at 11:00 a.m. In Castle Dale, the site of the salute was moved to an area where several World War II fallen warriors were buried. Commander Huntington pointed to the headstones of these military men and told about their area of service and how they helped to win the war and secure the peace for the United States.

Following Commander Huntington’s address, the traditional gun salute was done by the eight veterans of the different branches of service.