The Memorial Service Program
"The presence of his absence is everywhere." -- Edna Vincent Millay

Following a presentation of the Colors by the Branson Veterans Task Force,
we were lead in the Pledge of Allegiance by AWON President, Patricia Gaffney-Ansel.
Then after a few words from the Chaplain, AWON Director Walt Linne read:

"High Flight"

-- by John Gillespie Maggee, Jr.

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds – and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there.
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air
Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew.
And, while with silent, lifting mind, I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

Each of us in turn read our Father's name. It's Norm's turn.
Chickie read CWO John Coleman Shields, KIA 6 Dec. 43, Sydney, Australia
Kay Orsborn read TEC5 Howard William Smith, KIA 19 Feb. 45, New Guinea,
Norm Stahl read PVT Norman C. Stahl, KIA 6 Jun. 45, Okinawa.
David Stanek read PFC Aloysius Anthony Stanek, KIA 29 Nov. 44, near Linnich, Germany.
Dave's Mother, Jo Stanek, wife of Aloysius looks on.

 

Following a few words from the Chaplain, and the retiring of the Colors, we sang:

"I'll be seeing you"

-- Lyric by Irving Kahal and Music by Sammy Fain

I'll be seeing you.
In all the old familiar places,
That this heart of mine embraces, all day through.
In that small cafe,
The park across the way,
The children's carousel,
The chestnut trees, the wishing well.
I'll be seeing you
In every lovely summer's day,
In everything that's light and gay,
I'll always think of you that way.
I'll find you in the morning sun
And when the night is through,
I'll be looking at the moon,
But I'll be seeing you.

We left red carnations for our Dads.

 

Dianna Peirson. Jack Forgy, and Victoria Adams.

The insignia of James Kilroy, a weld inspector at the Quincy, Massachusettes Shipyards.
The image was photographed at the Veterans Memorial Museum in Branson.

 

Note: If anyone sees corrections that need to be made, or if anyone has JPG photos
of other names being read at the Memorial Museum, please send them to RikP@dayone.com.

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