EDITOR’S NOTE: There were ceremonies throughout Tillamook County – I was at the Nehalem American Legion Cemetery and streamed the service live on Facebook (see below for links to videos.) The event was attended by over 200 people – one of the largest turnouts in years. Multiple generations of families attending a traditional ceremony to solemnly acknowledge the utlimate sacrifice of so many. David Dillon was the featured speaker and he shared this story about the “Wettest Place on Earth” … patriotic songs and “Taps” by Bob LaTorre finished the event in fine form. Pioneer photographer/videographer Don Backman was at Sunset Heights for their annual Memorial Day Services; and Robin Swain was organizing the Memorial Day Event at Rockaway Beach. Watch for more photos from throughout the county as we remembered …
Story, Photos, Video by Don Backman
“It’s extremely important that this not be lost,” Dean Crist, Pastor of First Christian Church and Master of Ceremonies at the Memorial Day service at Sunset Heights Memorial Gardens announced as part of his initial address to the assembled audience. “History is a great teacher.” He was speaking about the importance of remembering those who have fallen in service of the United States.
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs website has a lengthy discussion on the history of Memorial Day, or Decoration Day, as it was originally termed. Decoration Day was named for the practice of decorating the graves of those who fell in the Civil War. “In the waning years of the Civil War (1861–1865) and immediately afterward, communities in the North and South, Black and White, decorated soldiers’ graves with floral honors on springtime “decoration days.” The practice of strewing flowers on graves has been documented from Classical Roman times to western Europe in the nineteenth century.”
“On May 5, 1868, the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), a politically powerful organization of Union veterans led by Major General John A. Logan — issued General Orders No. 11 or the “Memorial Day Act.” This issuance formally established “Memorial Day” as a Decoration Day on which the nation would remember its war dead and decorate their graves with flowers.”
The Veterans Affairs review of how Memorial Day came to be culminates with, “A congressional resolution in 1966 officially recognized a century of Memorial Day events held on May 30 in Waterloo, NY, officially proclaimed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Thus, the federal government declared this location as the “birthplace” of Memorial Day. Shortly after that, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, legislation enacted in 1968 — effective in 1971 — designated Memorial Day a national holiday and moved it from May 30 to the last Monday in May.”
The Memorial Day ceremony at Sunset Heights began with the Boy Scout Troop 582 Color Giard raising the U.S. flag high over the cemetery, then Nicholas Smith lead the assembly in the pledge of allegiance.
Rebecca Corbus sang the National Anthem at the beginning and then God Bless America at the end. Retired Pastor and USAF veteran, Ron Watson performed the invocation. Retired Colonel William Hatton, USMC, reviewed the history of Memorial Day. Chuck Hurliman, National Guard and Army, addressed the assembled audience.
The ceremony featured the emotionally moving event reading of the names of locals who died in service and veterans who have passed. The names were read by Rick Foss, USAF, Deb Maynard, USAF Auxiliary/Civil Air patrol, Trenda Fletcher, U.S. Navy, and Tim Maynard, USAF.
Daniel Sargent played Taps and Brad Smith, Pastor of Lifechange Christian Fellowship did the benediction.
Memorial Day is when we remember those who have given their lives for this country. The ceremony at Sunset Heights is a simple ceremony as are many if not most throughout the country. It is also powerful and moving as are the other similar ceremonies throughout the US. If you haven’t ever attended a Memorial Day ceremony, or haven’t been to one recently, make it a point to go to one on Memorial Day 2025. Take your kids. They need to see why we need to decorate the graves of those who have fallen.
Nehalem American Legion Cemetery – Pioneer Facebook live:
Tillamook – Sunset Heights Memorial Gardens:
