Slideshow: 'Veterans have to be honored for their service'
Brian McVicar | bmcvicar@mlive.com
on May 23, 2008 at 10:34 PM, updated February 08, 2010 at 1:01 PM
Chronicle/Krista SchinaglAmerican Legion Post No. 9 member Ed Subler holds the flags that were left over from decorating the graves of war veterans in the Evergreen Cemetery, Friday morning. Enlarge photo
For Ed Subler, honoring fellow veterans is more than tradition, it's a way of life.
Watch the Memorial Day slideshow "Never Forgotten" by Chronicle photographer Krista Schinagl.
The 88-year-old World War II veteran spent Friday morning the same way he has for the past 65 years -- planting American flags near the grave sites of fallen veterans in Evergreen Cemetery.
Clutching a handful of American flags, the Muskegon native said the task has become "engrained" in his lifestyle.
"These people fought for us," Subler said. "You don't think anything about it, you just do it," he said.
Chronicle/Krista SchinaglSue DeLong of Fremont walks down the rows of flags honoring the men and women from Michigan who have died or are missing in action in Iraq and Afghanistan. The flags are on display in the field next to the RWDSU Local 530 Union Hall until Tuesday. Enlarge photo
Across Muskegon, veterans are sprucing up cemeteries in honor of Memorial Day. With more than 1,800 flags to plant, its not easy work.
Now, some veterans are wondering who will carry out the task when they pass on. Federal government officials estimate that 2,000 soldiers a day are dying.
Duane Buckner, co-chariman of the Muskegon County Memorial Day Committee, said he would like to see more civilians take part in Memorial Day activities.
"A lot of the veterans are getting up there in years," Buckner said. "I'm 66 and I'm the baby of the group."
If more people don't get involved, the nation's veterans miss out on the honor they're due, Buckner said.
"They are just kind of forgotten by people other than their fellow veterans," Buckner said. "(People) wouldn't be free to do what they want if it wasn't for World War II veterans."
Chronicle/Krista SchinaglThe field next to the RWDSU Local 530 Union Hall was transformed into a "healing field" Friday, with 192 flags honoring the men and women from Michigan who have died or are missing in action in Iraq and Afghanistan. Each flag has a name and picture of a soldier and a yellow ribbon identifying the donor of the flag and a their dedication. The flags will be on display until Tuesday. Enlarge photo
World War II veterans, such as Gerrit Veldman, have seen more and more of his fellow comrades disappear each year.
The 86-year-old World War II veteran can see it when he attends his Army division's annual reunion in Houghton Lake.
For the past 10 years, it's been getting "smaller," he said.
"Some of the guys have passed on, some couldn't drive themselves and some were using walkers," Veldman said. "We're getting old."
Chronicle/Krista SchinaglJerome Schaner Jr, from Hesperia, and his wife, Arlene Schaner, search Friday for the flag honoring their nephew, Army Spc. Anthony O. Cardinal, who died Christmas day 2005. Enlarge photo
Realizing many of his fellow soldiers are dead hasn't discouraged Veldman from volunteering.
"(Veterans) have to be honored for their service," he said as he gazed at the American flags dispersed through the cemetery. "That flag is a representation of the U.S. and the freedoms we fought for."
When he spotted a line of schoolchildren passing through the cemetery, Veldeman said he was happy to see them observing the graves of his fallen comrades.
"It's important (that) they retain what they learn," Veldman said. "But there's a lot of kids today that don't even know what World War II is."
It was a scene of stark contrast -- 30 odd youngsters with shiny faces and a bounce in their steps strolling past slow-moving veterans like Veldman, with their life-and-death experiences etched in every line along their brow.
Chronicle/Krista SchinaglAmerican Legion Post 9 member, Gerrit Veldman, searches for the graves of war veterans to decorate with flags in the Evergreen Cemetery for Memorial Day, Friday morning. Enlarge photo
Amanda VanDalen, a second-grade teacher at Moon Elementary in Muskegon, said she was teaching her students about Hackley Day and about veterans that have died fighting for their country.
"We're honoring the veterans that are buried here," VanDalen said. "The flags are showing them how important the people who served are."
That importance was evident when Ray Perley laid flowers on the grave of his stepbrother who served in World War II.
Perley, a World War II veteran, had spent the morning leaving flowers by the graves of family members who had served in the military, including his father who died in World War I.
"He gave up his life for us so we could go on living," Perley said. "(Leaving flowers) is the least I can do for them.
Like many World War II veterans, the 85-year-old Muskegon native isn't sure how much longer he can carry on the tradition.
But with two sons living in the Muskegon area, he's confident the tradition will be continued.
"(I) went all the time with my mother to lay flowers on the grave of my father," Perley said. "Now I bring my youngsters with me. I'm 85, and I won't be around for much longer, hopefully they will continue to do it." Chronicle/Krista SchinaglAmerican Legion Post 9 member, Don Morell decorates a war veteran's grave with a flag in the Evergreen Cemetery for Memorial Day, Friday morning. Enlarge photo