Hughes Springs honors fallen veterans with Memorial Day flag ceremony

By J. Leslie Riseden

Special contributor to The Steel Country Bee

“Earn this.” In the 1998 film “Saving Private Ryan”, those were the last words spoken by US Army Ranger Captain John Miller (portrayed by Tom Hanks) to Private First Class James Ryan (played by Matt Damon.) “Earn it.” Miller was referring to the heroic measures taken by Miller and his squad to find Ryan during WWII. Ryan had three brothers who were killed in action, and their mother was to receive all three telegrams on the same day. Three days after the unspeakable brutality of the invasion of Normandy, Miller had received orders to find Ryan so that he could be sent home immediately. Miller and his men had suffered great loss in completing their assignment, and he urged Ryan to “earn it.”

On May 30, Lt. Col. Karl Stoermer, USAF, Ret., shared the story of Private Ryan – which is based on a true story -- with the citizens who had gathered in Hughes Springs to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Led by the Color Guard from the Arden Hanes American Legion Post 351, the American flag was solemnly hoisted and then lowered to halfstaff. The crowd stood in silence as the sharp gunfire salute pierced the air, followed by the familiar and heart-wrenching sound of a lone bugle playing Taps.

Mr. Stoermer, who is the mayor of Lone Star, spoke solemnly of the sacrifices made by the men and women who have defended America’s freedom. Mr. Stoermer also read from a letter written by President Abraham Lincoln to another mother, whose five sons had also fallen on the battle field. The message, written in November of 1864 and known as the Bixby letter, read in part: “ … I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save. I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.”

Memorial Day -- a day of remembrance, a day the entire nation bowed its head in gratitude for the bravery and dedication of the thousands of men and women who gave their lives in defense of their nation. Every one of them did, indeed, earn this.