Fallen heroes honored and celebrated at Memorial Day program

Weather did not permit the community of Waseca to celebrate Memorial Day and their fallen heroes outside and with a parade, but they still celebrated and honored the day at the Waseca Senior High School gym.

Many members of the community attended the event and many participated in the event as well. Music by the Waseca High School Band, the Waseca Male and Female Sextets, Muriah Miller-Keith, Emma, Keith, Layla Keith, and Jerome Broughton was performed.

VFW Post 1642 Commander Blaine Brooks was the master of ceremonies for the program and read all the names of the deceased veterans in Waseca County from May 10, 2023 to May 1 2024. At the beginning of the program, he explained the history of the holiday, as it was first originated to honor the fallen soldiers of the Civil War and then was changed after World War I to remember all of those who died for the service of the nation.

"This is our time to remember those who have served and have now passed on," Brooks said.

Waseca High School students played a vital part in the program, as the Waseca Band and members of the choir gave musical performances, with senior Lucas Vasquez-Neighbauer continuing the program's tradition of reciting the Gettysburg Address.

Waseca graduate Col. Abraham L. Jackson was the speaker of the program and gave an address. Jackson currently resides in Eustice, Virginia and is the U.S. Air Force Director of Intelligence, Headquarters Air Combat Command.

"Today we pay tribute and remember the lives who defended our nation," Jackson said in his address. "Those friends and comrades lost in the defense of our nation answered their calls of duty, giving us today, tomorrow, and the tomorrows of all Americans."

Members of the American Legion Post 228 and VFW POST 1642 along with their auxiliaries laid wreaths down in memoriam of fallen soldiers who have served in various conflicts in American history. There was also a simulated salute by the rifle squad since the program was indoors.

This year's program consisted of a special acknowledgment for the person who has organized Waseca's Memorial Day Program for 19 years. Grant Whissemore, who is the chairman of the Waseca Memorial Day Association, was recognized for his years of service as this year will be the final year of him being chairman and organizing the event.

Steve Kahnke from VFW Post 1642 and Lamar Kuster from American Legion Post 228 presented Whissemore with a plaque to honor his 19 years of organizing the program.

"Without you, things wouldn't get done the way they do," Kuster said to Whissemore.

Whissemore gave a speech and acknowledged the many people who helps him put the program together and helps him organize the placement of flags in the various cemeteries around town.

"I couldn't do it without everyone here," Whissemore said. "The choir, the band, our speakers, the ministers, you can't just do it without all those people."

"Unfortunately this is my last year," Whissemore added. "We're going to have someone else take over and we'll have good qualified people but after 19 years this is it. I appreciate all the help I've gotten through all these years."