75-hour event to ‘Salute’ veterans

Christine Rupp — Staff Writer
FAIRMONT — A couple of years ago, Kay Sauck saw a picture on the Internet of a Memorial Day tribute at a cemetery. She thought the crosses, U.S. flags and luminaries looked amazing together, and that image stuck with her.

This year, Sauck, publisher of Womeninc magazine in Fairmont, is leading a Memorial Day weekend tribute that plays off the image that impressed her so much.

There are no crosses where the tribute will be held, but there will be 2,000 small U.S. flags and just as many luminaries.

“Salute,” a 75-hour Memorial Day weekend tribute, will begin at 8:30 p.m. Friday with a brief ceremony, followed by the lighting of the luminaries. It will be held behind the Dutch Creek Custom office building at 2322 Lake Avenue.

The tribute will continue throughout the weekend — with the luminaries lit during the dark hours of the night — and will end at midnight on Memorial Day.

With the length of the tribute, there should be time for everyone to have the opportunity to participate, Sauck said.

Although Sauck’s grandfather served in the military during World War I, no one close to her has served since then, but she thought Salute would be a good way to thank others who have.

Diane Gerhardt of Dutch Creek Farms, one of the event’s sponsors, said veterans need to be recognized and she thinks this is a good way to do it.

“Sometimes they (veterans) get lost in the shuffle, and Memorial Day is set up for that,” Gerhardt said.

When someone doesn’t have a loved one serving in the military, it’s sometimes easy to see Memorial Day as just a day off from work, said Nancy Stauffer of The Ad Pros, another of the event’s sponsors.

Even with the controversy of not just this war, but all wars, people serving in the military are willing to lay down their lives for the United States, reflected Connie Anthony of event sponsor Peterson Anthony Insurance Agency, Inc.

“They deserve our utmost respect and honor,” Anthony said.

Gene Borchardt, Fairmont American Legion chaplain and member of the Legion’s honor guard, said the idea of the 75-hour tribute was well received at the Legion meeting.

“I think it’s a neat idea,” said Borchardt, who served in the Army during the Korean War, although he never left the United States.

It’s also important, he said, to show returning veterans from the current war in Iraq that the community is behind them and thinks of them.

Sauck expects people from quite a distance to come to Fairmont for the tribute. She has already received a call from someone who can’t come but wants the name of a loved one written on a small white flag. The white flags, which will be available at the event, will be placed next to the small U.S. flags.

“People are responding already,” Sauck said.

This year, the event is paid for by sponsors, who have contributed $500 each to purchase supplies, including the 2,000 flags. Along with Womeninc, Dutch Creek Farms, The Ad Pros and Peterson Anthony Insurance Agency, other sponsors include American Legion Post 36, Tributes Enterprises and Dulcimer Medical Center.

Some people have asked if the event’s organizers will take donations, Sauck said. She explained that the group will take donations, and any money received will go toward next year’s tribute.

“It’s not our event; it’s for the community,” Gerhardt said.

Salute’s organizers are seeking some help from the community as the event nears. They will need people to help light luminaries each night, and they do not plan to limit the number of volunteers, saying that anybody who wants to help is welcome.

“If we have 2,000 volunteers, we can light them (the luminaries) all at once,” Borchardt said.

The sponsors also want to have a flag from each branch of the military present at the tribute, but they need flag poles. Borchardt said they are asking if community members have five 20-foot lawn flag poles the event’s organizers can borrow during Memorial Day weekend.

To volunteer to help light luminaries or to loan the event a flag pole, call Womeninc at (507) 235-8119.