21ST DISTRICT
LEGION
NAIRE
RIVERSIDE COUNTY AMERICAN LEGION
MEMORIAL DAY 2019
“Putting the Fight in the Fighting 21st District - Audacity, Audacity, always Audacity!”
A MEMORIAL DAY TRIBUTE
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
POST 739 RETIRES THE COLORS
Hello to all the members of the Auxiliary and all the members of the Legion, Sons of the Legion, and The Legion Riders.
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BY DR. JOHN ELLIS, ED.D.
The gnarled fingers of the old woman caressed the flag she held in her hands. Her late husband, a WWII U.S. Army Veteran, had painstakingly and proudly affixed it to their house with a salute. And now, as she embraced it… sun bleached, weathered and worn, frayed and tattered, she recalled that the Indio American Legion accepted such old flags for proper disposal.
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With this as her solitary goal, she took the bus and step by slow aged step, made it to the single story building that housed Herman Granados Post 739. Clutching the Stars and Stripes to her chest, she asked if she could leave it in their care. A Legionnaire reached out with a reassuring smile and accepted her treasure, inviting her back for a special ceremony simply called: “The Flag Retirement.” And so it was, on a warm Saturday morning, an old woman joined those who had gathered to witness the event. They were welcomed by Post Commander Steve Waggoner. Shadow Hills High School ROTC Cadets “inspected, examined and retired the colors” under the guidance of advisor Pete Anderson. A prayer was offered by Post Chaplain Tommy Madrid. The Legion Honor Guard fired three volleys followed by Taps. And the flags, including one very special one, transitioned from the calloused hands of a WWII veteran’s widow to those of a young high school Cadet, met the flames… providing a moment of solemn pause for those who silently watched. As this Memorial Day is a time for reflection of passing’s, so too, is the retirement of Old Glory, once gracing our homes, office and government buildings, factories and schools. The Indio American Legion Post, among others, accepts such responsibility…doing the right thing, the right way… with honor, respect, dignity… and, ultimately… with love.
Special thanks to Dr. John Ellis with out his support this paper would not be made possible.
On the last Monday of May we celebrate MeCathy McCoy morial Day by having a parade down Main Street U.S.A. We have a picnic in the back yard or a park. The family all comes together to remember what has happened in the past. The kids are running around, we eat too much food; we put up our flags and say the pledge. We talk about what is wrong with the country and how to improve it. We go to church and pray. It is sad that a lot of people think this is a holiday for just having fun. It’s a day they do not have to go to work. They are thinking of what they will be doing in the months to come. The men play ball and argue about politics. The ladies cook, and clean up after everyone has eaten. They talk about the school system and how to raise their children. They tend to forget what this holiday is for. Memorial Day is to remember the men and women who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom, and those who are still serving our country. Please attend a service at one of our cemeteries in your area, help put a flag on all of our Veterans graves. The National Cemetery in Riverside has a great service. They call out all of our Veterans names that are buried there. There are Thousands of Service members overseas and at home that need to be remembered. Visit our Veterans who are in a Nursing Home or the Hospital.
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PLUS INSIDE Legion Documentary......Page 7
Rededication................ Page 11
County Fair.................. Page 14
Coin Countdown...............Page 32