American Legion Post 266 Honors Fallen Service Members at Three Memorial Day Ceremonies

4–6 minutes

By Marisa Dawson

A veteran saluting during a memorial ceremony, with others in attendance and a brick monument in the background.
Legion Commander Merlin Kay salutes the flag.

Members of American Legion Post 266 continued a longstanding tradition on Memorial Day, hosting ceremonies at three local cemeteries to honor military service members who gave their lives in service to the nation.

The ceremonies took place Monday at Flower Hill Cemetery, German Cemetery and Prairie View Cemetery, drawing community members together in remembrance of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

At each location, Post Commander Merlin Kay welcomed attendees and reflected on the significance of Memorial Day. Retired U.S. Air Force chaplain Harry Mathis spoke about the history and meaning of the holiday before leading those gathered in prayer. Post Chaplain Pete Hunt read aloud the names of veterans buried at each cemetery, ensuring their service and sacrifice were recognized.

The ceremonies also included a wreath-laying and singing of “America the Beautiful” by Legion Auxiliary members, a 21-gun salute, the playing of Taps by Legion member Deb Niesen on bugle, and the raising and saluting of the American flag.

An elderly woman arranging a red, white, and blue floral wreath at a cemetery, with green grass and gravestones in the background.
Legion Auxiliary President Annette Kay lays a wreath.
A man in military attire plays the trumpet at a cemetery, surrounded by gravestones and greenery.
Legion member Deb Niesen plays “Taps” on bugle.

Memorial Day, observed annually on the last Monday of May, is a federal holiday dedicated to honoring members of the U.S. military who died while serving their country. The observance traces its origins to Decoration Day following the Civil War, when communities gathered to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers.

For Hunt, the day carries both national and deeply personal significance. “By my age, I was a little child growing up right after World War II, the whole world was patriotic,” Hunt said. “And we always had big Memorial Day services in town.”

He recalled attending Memorial Day ceremonies as a child with a close friend. “My friend was killed in Vietnam,” Hunt said. “And I always think of him… Always think of him.”

Hunt said participating in the annual ceremonies is a labor of love for Legion members. “It’s something we do, and it’s nothing we’re obligated to do,” he said. “There’s no rules to say we do it. We do it because we want to do it. We feel like it’s something we should do.”

He believes the intimate nature of local cemetery ceremonies helps preserve the true meaning of Memorial Day. “These people that come to the cemetery, they’re quiet and everything,” Hunt said. “That’s why.”

Mathis, one of the newer members of Post 266, also spoke about the personal connection he feels to the holiday. “Memorial Day is, if you Google it, it’s the time that we recognize those who served in the military and gave their lives for our country,” he said.

A man in a suit and veterans cap speaking into a microphone, with an American flag waving in the background, at a cemetery.
Legion Member Harry Mathis addresses the crowd.

Mathis shared that he is named after an uncle who died as a result of his military service during World War II. His father also served in the military, and Mathis himself spent more than 30 years in the Air Force, including 25 years as a chaplain. “I understand service,” Mathis said. “I also understand from a faith perspective that giving your life for others is something that Jesus taught. And so as a chaplain, I find that very important to remember.”

He said Memorial Day offers an opportunity to educate younger generations about the sacrifices that have secured the freedoms many Americans enjoy today. “I think it’s a time in our country where many people enjoy the freedoms of our country, but they don’t really understand what it took to get us to where we are,” he said.

Mathis said the American Legion plays an important role in helping communities remember those sacrifices. “The American Legion is formed by veterans who’ve served,” he said. “And it’s our mission, really, to help our country remember the important contribution that veterans have made and also to continue to model service.”

A group of six uniformed individuals participates in a ceremonial gun salute, firing rifles towards the sky in front of a gravestone, with greenery and a tree in the background.
Legion members perform a 21-gun salute.

He added that Memorial Day ceremonies provide comfort to families who continue to remember loved ones lost through military service. “It’s helping the community recover, helping the community learn, helping the community remember their loved ones… lots of different aspects to it,” Mathis said.

Also participating in Monday’s observances were members of the Sons of the American Legion. Glenn Turner, a member of both organizations, said supporting the ceremonies is one way the organization honors both veterans and family members who served.

“To me, it means just honoring all the people who gave their lives for our freedoms,” Turner said. “It’s this special weekend that everybody gets to enjoy and get out to the cemeteries and talk about their loved ones.”

Turner said the Sons of the American Legion chapter in Bennington has participated in the ceremonies since the organization was established locally about six years ago. “We just want to support the American Legion and the Auxiliary,” Turner said. “We had relatives that fought and have died defending this country now, so Sons just wants to be part of that.”

Veterans holding a POW-MIA flag and rifles at a cemetery during a memorial ceremony, surrounded by American flags and grave markers.
The colors are presented and displayed proudly.

He said the annual observances are meaningful to families whose loved ones are buried in the local cemeteries. “I think it means a lot to them that we’re out here and putting flags up and markers and doing a ceremony,” Turner said. “I think they really appreciate that.”

As the notes of Taps echoed across each cemetery and the American flag rose into the sky, community members stood in quiet reflection, continuing a tradition of remembrance that has endured for generations.

For the members of American Legion Post 266, the ceremonies served as a reminder that Memorial Day is not only about honoring the fallen, but also ensuring their sacrifices are never forgotten.

Veterans participating in a memorial ceremony holding a POW-MIA flag, with American flags in the background at a cemetery.
A group of people standing together outdoors, some holding flowers, during a gathering or event in a grassy area. The attendees are dressed in casual clothing, with a mix of colors and patterns, and several individuals are positioned in the background.
Veterans in uniform holding the American flag and a Post flag while standing in a cemetery during a memorial ceremony.
A speaker in a white shirt and veteran's cap addresses an audience while holding a microphone, standing near a flagpole with an American flag. In the background, there are gravestones and a directory sign.
Veterans standing at attention in a cemetery, holding flags, during a commemorative ceremony.
A man in a white shirt and military cap is raising an American flag at a cemetery, standing next to a directory sign. He is wearing a red, white, and blue wreath around his waist, and there are gravestones in the background.
An elderly woman placing a flower wreath at a cemetery, with a sign in the background about flower pickup after Memorial Day.
A group of people gathered at a cemetery for a memorial service, with a gravestone decorated with flowers, an American flag, and other tributes in the foreground.
Veterans honor the American flag during a ceremony at a cemetery, with a focus on their uniforms and flags.
A veteran in a military cap speaks into a microphone while holding papers, standing near a flagpole with an American flag and a cemetery directory sign. A floral wreath is nearby, and gravestones are visible in the background.
A group of uniformed individuals performs a rifle salute at a gravesite in a cemetery, surrounded by trees and flowers.
A member of a military honor guard playing the trumpet at a cemetery, while another member stands at attention nearby.
A veteran stands at a cemetery looking at a waving American flag and a memorial wreath near a directory sign.
A man in a veterans' cap speaks into a microphone while holding notes, standing in a cemetery with gravestones and trees in the background.
A man in a veterans' cap speaking into a microphone at a cemetery, surrounded by trees and graves.
Veterans holding American and POW/MIA flags during a memorial service at a cemetery.
A group of veterans in uniform standing in a line, holding rifles, beneath a tree during a ceremony.
A group of people, including several women in blue shirts and one in a patriotic outfit, gathered at a cemetery for a memorial event. Some attendees hold flowers or drinks while sitting on a stone bench amidst a grassy area with gravestones in the background.
A group of people gathered in a cemetery for a memorial service, with American flags placed on gravestones and trees in the background.
A man in military attire raises the American flag at a memorial event, surrounded by attendees in a park-like setting.
A man in a white shirt and a Nebraska cap raises a flag at a memorial ceremony, with a wreath in the foreground and an audience in the background.

Discover more from Bennington Buzz

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Trending