Columbia City resident Doug Fahl, of the 76th Brigade of the National Guard, stands at attention with the color guard during Memorial Day services at Greenhill Cemetery.

By RUTH STANLEY
Managing Editor
Columbia City took time from its holiday celebration Monday to remember its men and women who have served the nation through military service.
The annual American Legion Memorial Day parade traveled down Van Buren Street with color guards and military units ending up at Greenhill Cemetery for a memorial service. A Humvee from the Fort Wayne National Guard unit, driven by Matt Shoda and Anthony Cordova also participated.
Dean Ramsey, Commander of American Legion Post 98, read the poem “Come Visit My Grave” written by Jim Rolfes of Plymouth County American Legion Wasmer Post 241 in LeMars, Iowa.
Following the reading, Ramsey remarked that he thought all should remember that “freedom isn’t free.”
In an address to the crowd, Richard A. Stark, Adjutant and Past Commander of Post 98, reminded the crowd that “we owe our liberty to those who gave their all.
“Sacrifice is meaningless without remembrance,” he said. Quoting President Abraham Lincoln in the dedication of the Gettysburg Battlefield in 1863, “The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here,” Stark impressed upon those gathered the importance of remembering what our men and women in uniform have done for the nation.
He also used the occasion to remind people of an important distinction.
“Just as everyone came together on Dec. 7, 1941 it seems we are doing it again since 9/11. Most Americans now have been able to separate the war from the warrior. This was something that was not done during the Vietnam War. Making that distinction is all important to those in uniform.
“As we remember our predecessors from the two World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, Beirut, Grenada and the Persian Gulf, the global War on Terrorism is being won by ordinary Americans making extraordinary sacrifices.”
Local veterans who have died since Memorial Day 2008 were remembered at the service. Those included Thomas D. Chrzanowski, P. Art Cummins, Walter L. Davis. Donald F. Deutsch, Phil E. Geiger, William O. Helfrich, Richard F. Howard, Kenneth C. Johnson, Robert E. Jones, Earl Kemery, Owen F. Kistler, Harold  H. Meyer, Albert L. Smith, Charles.  H. Trece, Malcolm H. Trump, Floyd Wolfe, Robert Zumbrun, all members of the American Legion Post 98, and VFW members Glen Davis, Larry L. Line and Arnold E. Yager. Cummins was also a VFW member.
During the service, a wreath presentation was made by Sons of the American Legion Commander Mitch Hoffman and adjutant Cliff Anderson.
A 21-gun salute was offered by firing squad comprised of commander Bill Hare, Homer Wells, Bob Hearld, Larry Jones, Mike Bellinger, Frank Fry, Bill Rea and Paul Thompson. Bugler Bill Hare played Taps.
A color guard made up of Korean War vets John Slaybaugh, Jim Shaw, Don York and Paul Gates, VFW members Dave Hawn and Robert Restameyer, and  Doug Fahl, of the 76th Brigade of the National Guard stood at attention through the service.
Rev. Paul Arnold of the Columbia City United Methodist Church offered prayers during the service.