Myrtle Beach Honors Servicemen and Women
by Lenore McKenzie-Morris
The plaza in front of the Myrtle Beach Convention Center steamed in the heat of a late spring day in South Carolina on May 25.
With temperatures building as the morning wore on, many attending the 2009 Memorial Day Ceremony sought the shade. Others bore the heat and ignored their discomfort in honor of those who died serving our country, and those who continue to do so.
It's hard to remember sometimes that our military in Iraq are often patrolling the streets and highways of that faraway country, wearing full uniform and protective gear when it's 119 degrees.
But this was a crowd that gathered specifically to pay tribute to those servicemen and women on active duty in Iraq, Afghanistan and throughout the world, and those who have served before them.
"It would be healthy for the people of our nation to pause for a moment and look the truth in the eye as we observe Memorial Day," said S.C. Rep. Liston Barfield. "I believe it would do the American people good to honestly come to terms with the idea that each person's individual freedom was purchased with the blood of our heroes. American heroes who suffered for freedom, yes, they suffered horribly. Many of them live with disabilities that will haunt them the rest of our lives; many died in the cause and defense of our freedom.
"It would be a wholesome thing for our nation to live up to the spirit of Memorial Day, to publicly grieve the dead of today's wars rather than hide their caskets from the public as if they were a source of public shame," Barfield continued. "These precious young men and women who gave the last breath of life for our country are the best our country has to offer. Meanwhile, our troops continue to fight in the desert of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan. They fight and they bleed, and they die for you and for me. We must give them tribute ... honor, dignity and praise, and we must do this publicly."
Barfield's speech was one of the highlights of the Grand Strand Patriotic Alliance program. Members of the alliance performed a rifle salute to the fallen, following a toast to the flag by Bill Shoe of the Disabled American Veterans and the laying of a wreath by the Socastee High School JROTC. Festive Brass, a group of local musicians, performed the National Anthem, God Bless America, Taps and other selections throughout the program.
Myrtle Beach resident Ray Hayes said he came to honor the occasion. Hayes, who served in the U.S. Army from 1948 to 1953, said he loved the music and the ceremonies associated with Memorial Day. A trombone player who has made music his life, Hayes said he played in the Army Band for five years. Dressed in bold red pants and a blue shirt, Hayes was accompanied to the program by Frances White, a visitor from out of state.
"This is actually one of the few Memorial Day services I've ever been to, and it's actually quite nice," she said.
White was among the few tourists who honored the occasion with her attendance. The event was well attended by local veterans and their family members. Local Boy Scouts in uniform and young children accompanying their parents and grandparents rounded out the crowd of mostly older citizens.
Among the veterans were U.S. Army Col. (Ret.) Edwin J. Rowan III and his wife, Pricilla, of Surfside Beach.
Rowan, a chaplain, was in full uniform and caught the attention of Iris Gerkens, who presented Rowan with a small heart-shaped pillow adorned with military-style buttons. The quilted pillow was one of a half dozen she presented to veterans on Memorial Day.
"It is to remind the soldiers they are in our hearts and that we pray for them," said Gerkens.
Both Rowans appreciated the touching gesture. The couple is celebrating the military accomplishments of family members this month. Their daughter, Chaplain Major Julie Marie Rowan, who has served in the U.S. Army for 13 years, has just been stationed at West Point as the only female chaplain. And their grandson Edwin Rowan V has just graduated from training as a combat engineer.
"We just swell with pride," Pricilla said.
Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes spoke briefly during the event, telling all present what an honor it is to have a day to say thank you to veterans and military personnel.
"The thing to have to remember," Rhodes said, "is we need to say thank you every day that we see a military person, for the job they are doing every day protecting America and allowing us to maintain a free country."
The mayor also invited the public to show its support of active and retired military by attending the upcoming Military Appreciation Days event at Grand Park on the former air base. Thirteen bases from the Carolina and Georgia will compete during the three-day event which begins this Thursday, May 28.
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