Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

May 30, 2007, Front Page

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

To Fallen Comrades

Memorial Day services honor the lives of soldiers who died for freedom

Both in word and in deed, the fallen heroes of America, past and present, were honored at the Neillsville Cemetery on Memorial Day.

A memorial in the Neillsville Cemetery to Civil War soldiers

Those who had come to the cemetery grounds were greeted by the familiar Memorial Day setting that included the traditional sights and sounds of the holiday, among them the flags of the local military Color Guard, the 21-gun salute and the patriotic music of the Neillsville High School band.

But there was a special observance to be made at the Neillsville Cemetery this Memorial Day.  Don Simpson, a member of Neillsville American Legion Post 73, added a new dimension to the traditional ceremonies, as he not only explained, but also demonstrated, the profound meaning of the “Fallen Soldier” display.

“I feel that it’s time that we include that as part of our Memorial Day service,” he said.

Simpson explained that the helmet and ID tags represent the deceased soldier.  The inverted rifle denotes a time of prayer to pay tribute to a fallen comrade, he said, and the boots, placed on the ground, next to the rifle, represents the final march or the last battle.

Then, without a word, Simpson quickly assembled those components of a soldier’s combat gear into a simple, yet starkly poignant, tribute.  Finally, Simpson paused; then knelt in silent prayer, his white-gloved hands clasped together in reverence.

Having completed erecting the official display paying tribute to the “Fallen Soldier”, Don Simpson, of the American Legion Post in Neillsville, kneels in prayer.

The display remained in place, a visual reminder of a tribute to fallen comrades, a subject that the morning ceremony’s main speaker, Staff Sergeant David Barth, would pay homage to as well.

Barth, a member of the Wisconsin National Guard who returned from a 15-month tour of duty in Iraq last November, recalled, the Memorial Day as being a part of America’s history since 1866, when it was created to honor the fallen soldiers of the Civil War.

Memorial Day has since been called a proud remembrance for the sacrifices made in the name of freedom, said Barth.  “The cost of freedom comes at a high price in human terms,”   “While we mourn lives lost, we celebrate the lives lived and are forever grateful.”

Barth went on to speak of the courage of American soldiers throughout history who have, through their sacrifices, made America truly the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Barth acknowledged the challenges of today’s world and its wars.  “Today, more than ever, is a time to set aside personal beliefs of politics and war,” he said.

Standing at the podium, a century-old monument to Civil War soldiers not far behind him and the just-erected fallen soldier display to his front, Barth’s final words sounded a timeless tribute.  “We commend you, our fallen comrades.  Today, we celebrate your lives,” he said.

The ceremony main speaker, Staff Sgt. David Barth, of the Wisconsin national Guard, spoke of the day’s Civil War heritage, of the many lives lost since then and the need for an unending tribute to America’s fallen heroes.

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