The bugler, George Via, American Legion Post 127 blows Taps
Will Blankenship laying the wreath at the Fallen Heroes Monument
Will and his proud Dad
Lonnie Grandle and Jeff Rice representing the 1st Stuart Horse Artillery
Shown L-R Tom King, Lonnie Grandle, Jeff Rice, George Via, and Connie Browning
Photo courtesy Floyd Press
Dylan Perdue, grandson of Jack Wall and Kamala Bauers reflects on our fallen.
This will be our third year of producing this event and we consider ourselves fortunate to be given the opportunity to serve.
This year the ceremomy begins at 10:00 AM on Friday, November 11th. Scheduling conflicts leave us with no color guards or rifle squad. We were, however able to secure George Via,VFW as our bugler.
Our wreath-layer this year will be William Blankenship, age five, son of Mr. and Mrs. William D. Blankenship and grandson of Pat Burton. He is also the grandson of Joseph Brton and Basil Blankenship, veterans of the Korean War, great great great great grandson of James Rogers, a veteran of the Civil War.
Please plan to join us.
The second annual Memorial Day ceremony will be held on May 31, 2010 at 10:00 AM.
We already have RSVP’s from the American Legion/VFW, Sons of the American Revolution, and the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
We have been snowed in since December 18 and now we have moderate weather and Spring thaw.
We had planned a special ceremony for Colonel Wilker during the last week in December, but the cemetery was snowed in. This was a big disappointment. Perhaps we can do it another time.
We are planning ceremonies for Momorial Day and Veterans Day. More on that later.
The monument
Mieczyslaw (Mike) Rachubik-Orwicz served in the Polish Army at the time when Hitler invaded Poland. After being captured during the Warsaw uprising, he was sent to the German concentration camp Matthausen, in Austria. After his liberation by American forces, he joined the Polish Corps of the British Army and served for the duration of the war in Europe. After living in England for ten years, he immigrated to America in 1956 and became a U.S. citizen in 1959. The family proudly flew the American flag each Memorial , Independence and Veterans Day. They were always grateful for this country and the freedom it offers. Mike is survived by his daughter, Barbara Triplett, a member of the Zion congregation. We are proud to include him as a Fallen Hero.
Col
Dean Wilker, USMC (ret)
Colonel Wilker served in World War II, The Korean War and Vietnam. He commanded the 12th Marine Fighter Group in Vietnam and retired as base commander of EL Toro Marine Base, California.
His decorations include The Legion of Merit, Distinguised Flying Cross with Gold Star, Meritorious Service Medal and Air Medal with 16 Gold Stars.
Colonel Wilker is the most highly decorated Fallen Hero in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery.
More images will be posted as they become available.
Video by Luis Garcia
It rained today…hard. We went to Plan B at the Oak grove Pavilion. You can determine from the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyLkkdhSKRc that things went well. We hope to have a slideshow soon. I love it when a plan comes together ( George Peppard – A Team).
Thanks to Luis Garcia for the fine video.
Erection is complete and awaiting dedication on Veterans Day. Everyone is invited.
This a copy of an email received from John Sowers following our re-dedication ceremony for George Sowers. Feel free to contact John directly if you have any questions or comments.
The rededication ceremony went well this morning. The weather cooperated; cloudy, but cool enought to make our Continentals comfortable in their wool uniforms. It was well attended and followed by breakfast at the Blue Ridge Restaurant and a tour of Floyd for our guests. We wish them a safe trip home.
Thank you to the Sons of the American Revolution Color Guard and the Veterans of Foreign Wars chaplian, Rev. Seco.
Pictures will be posted as soon as they become available.
Ken Brown’s slideshow (unedited)
David St. Lawrence’s slideshow (unedited)
http://picasaweb.google.com/FloydVA007/2009Aug15Sowers?authkey=Gv1sRgCOui2dLP_oazHw
David St. Lawrence’s post http://ripples.typepad.com/ is worth the visit.
Private George Sowers’ footstone has been located, thanks to directions from his great great great grandson. The headstone will now be rescued from the church furnace room , reset and the gravesite re-dedicated. There will be an appropriate ceremony held this summer, at the convenience of his family.
A date has been set for the re-dedication: August 15, at 10:00 AM. Mark your calendars.
Update
A drainage system has been provided for the footstone to keep it visible and the headstone is in place. Thanks go out to all who helped.
