Community Members Honor Veterans

Three years after its dedication, the Orion Community Veterans Monument is still growing, chairman Pat Cooper told the audience at the Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 25, at the monument.

Eight to 12 bricks are added each year, either on Memorial Day or Veterans Day, she said.

As of Monday, the monument is surrounded by 515 bricks dedicated to veterans. A sidewalk leading up to the monument has bricks with the names of 57 individuals, 34 businesses and 22 organizations.

“That’s not bad for a small town of 1,800,” Cooper said.

On Monday, bricks were dedicated for veterans Robert E. Lee, Earl J. Mathias and George D. Smith and for an organization, Mothers of World War II.

The veterans’ biographies will be in next week’s issue.

Monday’s ceremony began with a color guard from Orion American Legion Post 255 and Orion Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 143 presenting the colors. 

Orion High School vocal instructor Andrea Kapusinksi sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

The Rev. Mike Lawyer, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, gave the invocation and the benediction.

George Rose, master of ceremonies, presented a history of Memorial Day. 

Directed by Emily Roberts, the Orion Community Band played a medley of armed forces marches and other patriotic songs.

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Ty Simmons of Aurora was the guest speaker. Details of his speech will be in next week’s paper.