GALLERY:VIDEO Memorial Day program at Green River KOA

By Patsy Stoddard

The Green River KOA presented its fourth annual Veterans program on Monday. Joe and Denise West from the Green River KOA welcomed everyone. Travis Bacon was the master of ceremonies at the event.
Rod and Lani Asay presented the American flag and the POW flag. Bacon also sang the National Anthem.
Pastor Kirk Dunham offered a prayer over the program. He said a group of ladies wanted to decorate graves of fallen soldiers after the Civil War. They only wanted to do the Union graves, but a big windstorm came up and scattered the flowers over the entire cemetery covering Union and Confederate soldiers equally. “Let us remember all who have sacrificed their lives and to all the mothers who sacrificed their sons,” said Pastor Dunham.
JoAnne Chandler presented a history of World War I and honored World War I veterans. She had prepared a poster of Green River World War I veterans. She said, “The United States entered the conflict in 1917 after three American boats were sank. There were 9 million lives lost in this conflict including 3 million civilians. During this war airplanes, tanks and other new implements were used in fighting the war. The Red Cross also came into existence during this time.” The Victory Medal was first issued in 1921. The Green River Archives have some of these medals with their memorabilia,” said Chandler.
Chandler came to live in Green River because her father worked at the White Sands Missile base in Green River.
Bacon said four years ago ideas were formulated for the new Veterans monument in Green River. Last August it was dedicated with the help of 300 Veterans from the Freedom Riders. The KOA donated the wreath that’s placed on the monument for Memorial Day. “I am humbled to be here today honoring Veterans. How can we adequately thank those for the freedoms we have and for those who have laid down their lives. I humbly ask they accept our thanks. May we implore God to watch over and protect those in the Armed Forces. George Orwell said, ‘we sleep peacefully in our beds because armed men wait to do violence in our behalf.”
Chandler said, “I honor all in my family and I am proud they served our country from the Civil War to the present conflicts.”
Each Veteran or person representing a Veteran was given a flag. The Veterans stood before the flags of the Armed Forces while God Bless the USA was played.
Bacon said, “Thanks for your service, you will not be forgotten.”
Bob and Judy Scott placed the flags on the Veteran graves at the cemeteries.
Denise read a quote by Pres. Harry Truman, “Our debt to the heroic and valiant men and women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifice.”
The audience had refreshments prepared by the KOA employees.