Veterans and their families gathered in Pella to honor those who served the country during an annual ceremony on Sunday.
The event presented by VFW Post 5242 and American Legion Post 89 included music, speeches, and a tribute to veterans that died since last year’s Memorial Day. It ended with a three fire volley and the playing of taps.
Retired Col. Scott Visser feels that many people don’t understand the meaning of the holiday, and emphasized the importance of sharing the stories of military veterans during his keynote address.
“So many people are forgetting what Memorial Day is all about,” Visser says. “You go by the campground right now, and it’s full out at Lake Red Rock. That’s what they think Memorial Day [is about]. A send off to summer, we’re going out, the pool opens–that type of thing, instead of really recognizing what our veterans are.”
Congressman Dave Loebsack was also in attendance, and says that he’d like to see everyone do more to honor veterans and their families year-round.
“We have to make sure that it’s just not a couple of days a year when we’re honoring those folks who served in our military,” Loebsack says.
“We have to make sure that we are aware that they have families as well, and that they’ve made sacrifices.”