From veterans in uniform to civilians of all ages, several hundred attendees gathered under blue skies at the Edmonds Cemetery Monday to remember the fallen during the city’s 34th annual Memorial Day ceremony.
The focus of this year’s ceremony was remembering World War I veterans, and master of ceremonies Jerry Janacek told the story of U.S. Army Pfc Frank Freese, an Edmonds resident who fought in World War I. The 26-year-old shingle weaver entered the Army in November 1917 and, after training at Fort Lewis, he was sent to the front lines in France. He was wounded in the hip and right side and died in October 1918 as a result of his injuries.
The American Legion Post 8870 named its Edmonds Legion Hall after Freese, and a citation hangs on the wall noting the U.S. Army’s recognition of Freese for his “extraordinary heroism and great initiative.” After his battalion was nearly destroyed, Freese and two companions captured a machine gun nest, turning the gun on the other nest “and alone brought in 47 German prisoners,” Janacek said.
Freese is buried in the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in France along with the largest number of American military dead in Europe — 14,246. “It is for us who are gathered here today — the living — to remember and honor all those men and women who have fought for and defended our country,” Janacek said.
Edmonds Mayor Dave Earling told the crowd that “today is the day to honor those who never made it home.” The mayor said that in the World War I Battle of the Argonne forest, there were over 200,000 casualties including 26,000 deaths — two-third of the population of Edmonds.
“I hope you might lay a flower, plant a flag or simply pause a moment to think of someone who served and cannot join us today because they fell in another country to protect our freedom here at home,” Earling added.
Edmonds-Woodway High School sophomore Olivia Olson received a standing ovation for her award-winning VFW Post 8870 essay, “My Vision for America,” in which she described her frustration at being the only one of three students in her class of 30 to recite the daily Pledge of Allegiance.
“There is a disease making its way through our country,” Olson said. “It is compromising values and skewing priorities. It is undermining our social structure and eating a way at the American Dream. And I’m sure you’ve all heard of this disease before, as it goes by a common name: apathy.”
The symptoms of apathy, Olson continued, include “our disregard for government, the absence of gratitude for our veterans and our failure to inspire the next generation of patriots.” Noting the country’s current voting rate of about 50 percent, she added: “A government of the people, for the people and by the people fails when the people don’t show up.” She also noted the inability of citizens to discuss politics, which has “led to a paucity of ideas shared and new information learned. By not discussing our opinions with others, we eliminate the possibility of enlightening and being enlightened.”
Veterans are “collateral damage” of such apathy, Olson said. “Our soldiers risk and lose their lives for us every day so that we can have the freedom to practice our religions, to express ourselves in any manner we chose, and to live our lives without constant fear.”
Olson said her vision for America is one “where kids learn what it is to be an American, what it is to be a critical thinker, a facer of adversity and an advocate for justice. A time where citizens can civilly discuss politics for the betterment of our government.
“Our patriotism shouldn’t be confined to Memorial Day, 4th of July and Veteran’s Day,” Olson said. “Patriotism needs to be part of our daily lives.”
You can read the full text of Olivia Olson’s essay here.
— Story and photos by Teresa Wippel
Today in Edmonds the true meaning of Memorial Day came alive. My thanks to the members of the cemetery board and all those who worked so hard to make this a true day of remembrance. It was a beautiful tribute.
A beautiful and moving tribute to those who have served. Thank you for your service!
Bravo! Thank you to all that have served and are now serving to protect the USA.
Olivia Olson spoke wisdom beyond her years and I look forwarded to hearing her essay again!
Olivia Olson you are one remarkable young lady and your beautiful tribute of “My Vision for America” was to powerful. Thank you for your understanding and love for those who have served and who have died to protect our USA!
Did I misunderstand or did the person leading the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance leave out the words “under God” in reciting the Pledge?
during WWII, there was no “under God” in the Pledge………THIS was put in the pledge much later by President Eisenhower. I have a pre 1950s bookmark with the pledge in full on it sans “under God” confirming that.
I would also like to add that it was President Eisenhower a celebrated militay leader who said something along the lines of beware the military industrial complex.We are now having the LONGEST period of WAR in the history of the United States………Peace is still the best idea
And speaking of God, “Thou Shalt Not Kill” comes to mind from my Sunday school days. I would like to think we are not killing people in the name of God or for a particular religious belief “under God”……..and we’re not pledging to that