Lake Saint Louis Honors Our Country's Heroes

Lake Saint Louis' annual Memorial Day ceremony drew a large audience Monday, as veterans, family and friends came together to pay tribute to America's service men and women—especially to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Mayor Mike Potter welcomed everyone to the ceremony and introduced Master of Ceremonies Ralph Sidebottom. The colors were posted by VFW Post 10350 and members of the Civil Air Patrol, and the invocation was given by the Rev. Jim Wheeler of the First Baptist Church. 

The Choral Arts Singers and Choral Arts Youth sang the National Anthem, and Boy Scout Troop 972 raised the flag and lowered it again to half-staff as is the custom on Memorial Day.

Ralph Barrale from VFW post 10350, who was instrumental in the construction of Veterans Memorial Park, stood up to say a few words about the park. It was, Barrale said, "a dream that became a reality . . . a place where heroes are remembered, not only on Memorial Day or Veterans Day, but every day of the year." He said that eight new commemorative bricks had been installed for a total of 378 bricks—and that there was room for many more. "We all have a hero," Barrale said.

The day's speaker was Colonel Sean Fagan, Commander, North Central Region US Air Force/Civil Air Patrol. Fagan said, "There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for another." He mentioned that Memorial Day had its beginnings in 1868, to remember those who had given "that last full measure of devotion."

"Freedom is not a gift. It is an earned benefit," Col. Fagan said. "To those we honor today, we are entirely in your debt, and we thank you."

The Choral Arts sang God Bless America, and VFW Post 10350 fired three rifle volleys in memory of veterans, and an additional volley for those whose names are engraved on bricks at Veterans Park.

The ceremony finished with Taps, the benediction and the retrieval of the colors, and the entire audience singing America the Beautiful.

Many people stayed to locate and photograph bricks engraved with the names of loved ones.