Three Members of the LTC Fred Ettleman Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7305 took the time to visit Rye High School (RHS) on Tuesday, May 7, to explain to the students the significance of Memorial Day. Sr. Vice Commander Jerry Collins, Chaplain Don Shumake, and Quartermaster Tom Howard were proud to explain the holiday to the students as well as presenting two patriotic videos and talking about their military experience. They also explained the significance of the Memorial Poppy and handed them out to the students after the presentation.
Collins told of his experiences during two tours in Vietnam and the various jobs he held during his military time. He served in the US Army from September 1969 until June 1971. He also explained the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day, besides their respective dates.
Collins explained that Memorial Day originated during the Civil War era and was first called Decoration Day. This day was set aside for veterans, families, and civilians to decorate the grave sites of soldiers and servicemen they wished to honor and remember. Memorial Day didn’t become an official national holiday until 1971.
Veterans Day also honors war veterans; however, the distinguishing difference between the two holidays is that Veterans Day celebrates all veterans - living or dead. Memorial Day is reserved to honor and pay respects to the military lives that have been lost. Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11th each year.
Veteran Tom Howard told the students that he went to Vietnam as an advisor before the United States was even in the war. He shared that he was sent back to Okinawa with the first troops. Between 1965 and 1972, Okinawa was a key staging point for the United States in its military operations directed towards North Vietnam. Howard shared that he served in Vietnam until 1966, when he was sent to Detroit.
Don Shumake shared that he joined the U. S. Marines while he was still a student at Pueblo County High School and went into training just a few days after graduation. Shumake shared that he was injured several times, ultimately losing part of both of his legs. At one point, Shumake remembers riding in a helicopter to a hospital while a Navy man held his finger in Shumake’s wound to keep him from bleeding out. He shared, “I was proud to do it and I would do it all over again.”
The veterans shared a video, “History of Memorial Day”, that explained how Memorial Day honors those who died in military service. The video explained the origins of Memorial Day and how it has evolved to being celebrated the last Monday of May.
A touching video entitled, “ Taps”, was also shared with the students before the veterans offered a question-and-answer session and handed out Remembrance Poppies. The poppies are distributed to commemorate the military members who died in a US War.
The veterans invited everyone to join VFW post 7305 on May 27, at the Colorado City Cemetery beginning at 9:00 a.m. for their Memorial Day Ceremony.