Marenisco celebrates Memorial Day with public ceremony

By P.J. GLISSON

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Marenisco - Despite the threat of thunderstorms, a Monday morning Memorial Day service took place at the Marenisco Township Cemetery with nothing but sunshine.

Members of American Legion Post 523 took charge of the service, which was pared back slightly due to state restrictions regarding COVID-19.

After the Pledge of Allegiance and a piped-in version of the National Anthem, Commander John Zorich addressed the crowd.

"We are gathered here today to remember the 1.3 million-plus who have died since the Civil War while wearing a uniform," he said.

Zorich recalled a World War II veteran who once was asked if he felt like a hero.

The commander shared the veteran's response as follows: "I'm not a hero. I am a survivor. Those that didn't come home are the real heroes."

Zorich continued, "And that's who we honor today."

Legion Chaplain Bruce Mahler then took the podium and continued the commander's theme. "This is a somber day of reflection, a time to remember those men and women," he said.

The chaplain said participants in war "have our backs no matter how dire the straits," and he added that it's especially important to remember them at this time.

Mahler also recognized the impact of veteran deaths on related families. "We cannot forget the magnitude of your loss," he said.

He recommended making room for the memories those persons still have of their lost loved ones. "Sometimes, just sitting down with veterans' families to listen to them can go a long way," said the chaplain.

After his speech, Mahler read the roll call of Marenisco service members who have died.

Five members of the Legion's rifle squad then fired three volleys. Those men were Morley Loop, Jack Kurtz, Don Ormes, Sgt.-at Arms Pat LaRock, and Zorich.

Carol Loop, American Legion treasurer and Morley's wife, also was present.

Directly after the volleys, Catherine Baker, 15, of Marenisco, played "Taps" on her trumpet. She will be a junior next year at Wakefield-Marenisco K-12 School under the tutelage of music director Isaac Boehnlein.

If not for this year's social distancing rules, Boehnlein would have directed the school's entire Junior-Senior High School Band at the ceremony.

In concluding Monday's event, Zorich expressed appreciation for Baker's "beautiful" rendition.

The slightly smaller crowd at this year's annual program stood in loose formation behind the cemetery wall.