The annual Memorial Day Service at the Fieldcrest Gymnasium in Minonk on Monday was well attended with Melvin Matter serving as the Master of Ceremonies. The ceremony started with the Pledge of Allegiance followed by the National Anthem accompanied by Mary Miles on the piano. Minonk native Father Lloyd Cunningham then gave the Invocation.
Speeches were read by Fieldcrest students Erin Pongract, Clair Weers, and Olivia Crank. This was followed by a vocal duet by Grace Palmore and Austin Lester.
Melvin Matter at the podium watches as the Color Guard place the flags at the beginning of the ceremony at the Fieldcrest Gymnasium.
Father Lloyd Cunningham was the main speaker and spoke of how ordinary men became extraordinary heroes in our country's wars. He gave an interesting account of how he received his name from his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Cunningham. Father Cunningham's father Kenneth was a radio operator and jeep driver in World War II. One day his father and a fellow soldier were ordered to go pick up an officer. Kenneth's fellow soldier told him that he would drive the jeep this time and Kenneth could sit in the back with the radio equipment. On their journey, their jeep hit a land mine and Kenneth's companion was killed while Kenneth suffered shrapnel wounds. After that incident, Kenneth vowed to name his next son Lloyd after the fellow soldier that saved his life by offering to drive the jeep.
James Jacek and Robert Hock, Jr. read the roll call of all deceased veterans from the area cemeteries. After that followed a gun salute by the color guard and taps were played. The ceremony concluded with a singing of "God Bless America".
Erin Pongract gives her speech | Clair Weers |
Olivia Crank | Austin Lester and Grace Palmore |
Dr. John Podzamsky plays the bagpipes. |