Bastrop honors fallen veterans at Fairview Cemetery for Memorial Day

During a humid Memorial Day ceremony Monday at Bastrop’s Fairview Cemetery, World War II veteran Paul Cross reflected on the sacrifice of fallen soldiers.

“Everybody should turn out for Memorial Day ceremonies – a lot of blood was spilled during World War II, and other wars, for the benefit of everybody,” said Cross, who’s approaching his 97th birthday.

Cross served with the Third Marine Division in the South Pacific, fighting in the Second Battle of Guam in the summer of 1944. The conflict ended in the recapture of the island from the Japanese, who had taken it in December 1941.

“It’s a wonder I didn’t get wounded during the battle for Guam – I was a radio operator in the field,” Cross said.

Veteran Jerry Woehl, who served with the Army’s 49th Armored Division, was also in attendance. He had arrived early for the “Remembering Those Who Served” ceremony with fellow veterans Carl Spooner and Tommy Claiborne.

Woehl said the importance of Memorial Day is “to honor the people who gave their lives to protect our nation and freedoms.”

Cross and Woehl had joined the multitude of veterans, their families and friends, who gathered under the trees below the Fairview gazebo. The commemoration included the reading of World War I poem, “In Flander’s Field,” the raising of the U.S. and Texas flags by Bastrop High School Naval ROTC cadets Maddy Pickering and Conner Shaw, a stirring “Star Spangled Banner” sung by Terry Moore, a flyover by the CENTEX Commemorative Air Force, a 21-gun salute, and a solemn Taps, played by retired Bastrop police Detective Jason Pierson.

Father Mike Keppler Jr., with Christ the Door Anglican Church, delivered an inspiring invocation for the ceremony’s opening. He spoke about the strong effect that he experienced as an eight year old while he watched the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. That event would eventually lead to Keppler joining the Marine Corps.

Colonel Anthony Poletti, who spoke on the significance of Memorial Day, talked about his “five distant uncles, all ordinary men who made the extraordinary decision to serve their country.” Poletti said he was the third generation of his family to have served in the military, and that his son, who served with the Marines in Iraq, made the fourth generation.

“We sometimes forget the spouses of veterans,” Poletti added as encouragement to honor their key support to loved ones who serve in the military.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Memorial Day: Bastrop honors fallen veterans at Fairview Cemetery