Sgt. Aaron Valentine (right), pictured next to Isaac Valentine, delivered the Memorial Day speech at Prairie Home Cemetery.
For more Memorial Day photos, see “Memorial Day Memories in Climax” in State section.
By Bruce Rolfe
While Sgt. Aaron Scott Valentine (retired) of Climax touched on many wars since the birth of our nation, his message at a Memorial Day ceremony in Prairie Home Cemetery was about one very important topic—the freedoms we enjoy today come from the sacrifices that were made, and continue to be made, by others.
The Memorial Day ceremony was part of another memorable day in Climax that featured a pancake breakfast, Run To Climax, a parade that drew a huge crowd, car show, performances by the Northern Lights Drum and Bugle Corp, C-S Jazz band, a vintage baseball game, games and vendors and more.
Valentine reviewed how Memorial Day was started. He noted in April, 1866, flowers honoring the fallen were placed on gravesites. He said a group of woman decorating the graves of Confederate soldiers noticed the dilapidated and bare state of the Union soldiers at Shiloh. He said they took some of the first steps to heal the wounds of war, taking flowers and sharing them on the enemy graves. Valentine said two years later the Grand Army of the Republic established Decoration day on May 5, 1868 to place flowers on the graves of the Veterans of the American Civil War. In 1966 Congress and President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, NY the “Birthplace” of Memorial Day. It would not be until 1971 that it was declared a National Holiday.
Valentine then noted how the fight against tyranny and oppression “is one that our nation has stood ready for and answered the call to for more than 200 years.”
The Climax man talked about the sacrifices and brave acts that were made in World War I that claimed the lives of 53,000 Americans who were killed in action and overall more than 320,000 lives were lost.
Valentine talked about the bravery that followed an attack on our nation on December 7, 1941 in Hawaii.
“Men like Samuel Adams who in June of 1942 in the battle of Midway while fighting arial combat, also was able to radio in the location of Japanese war ships. The following day, Lieutenant Adams was killed in action when engaging the Japanese destroyer Tanikaze,” said Valentine.
Valentine noted a huge amount of sacrifice that came from the 2nd World War that took an estimated 420,000 American lives.
He said similar acts of bravery and sacrifice was made by those who were called for service in the Korean War, also known as the “forgotten war” to many.
“We continue to honor them, the nearly 36,000 American Service members who perished during the war,” said Valentine.
Looking further into our nation’s history, Valentine said it is important to honor those who sacrificed their lives in the jungles of Vietnam and Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War.
Again, he noted brave sacrifices were made.
“Men like Marine Corps Pfc. James Anderson Jr., who selflessly laid his life down for his comrades during a fire fight, tucking a grenade under his body, saving those around him,” said Valentine.
The retired sergeant talked about the need to remember the men and women who answered the call in 1983 to assist with the invasion of a communist regine 100 miles north of Venezuela, Grenada.
And less then 10 years later, that willingness to answer the call was made again by men and women who fought in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Shield, when 96 Americans gave their lives for our nation in combat during that time.
Valentine recalled the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on our own soil, asking visitors to remember those that helped that day.
“This Memorial Day, we also would like to honor the fallen firefighters, police, EMS and other public service personnel who take the call to serve our communities with honor, selfless acts and have given their lives for our nation and way of life,” said the Climax man.
Sacrifices and courageous acts that were carried out by our service members during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001 and two years later in 2003 when the war on terrorism brought our military service members to remove the regime in Iraq under the leadership of Saddam Hussein were noted by Valentine.
While it is important to remember those who have served our nation with dignity and honor, Valentine adds it’s important to help our veterans today who continue to suffer from not just the physical wounds from war, but mental struggles. He said an average of 22 veterans a day take their own lives.
“I want to encourage my brothers and sisters in uniform and those of us who have hung our uniforms up, to remember the loss of these brothers and sisters. That we remember to check on each other as those who have gone before us would surely want us to,” said Valentine.
“I pray that on this somber day of remembrance that we have faith in our Lord Jesus, we will once again get to see our loved ones who have gone before us. And that we would celebrate their sacrifices today with a somber joy in the freedom they gave their ultimate sacrifice for us to have,” added Valentine.
The ceremony concluded with the rifle squad representing the Climax-Scotts American Legion Post #465 and taps.
While Sgt. Aaron Scott Valentine (retired) of Climax touched on many wars since the birth of our nation, his message at a Memorial Day ceremony in Prairie Home Cemetery was about one very important topic—the freedoms we enjoy today come from the sacrifices that were made, and continue to be made, by others.
The Memorial Day ceremony was part of another memorable day in Climax that featured a pancake breakfast, Run To Climax, a parade that drew a huge crowd, car show, performances by the Northern Lights Drum and Bugle Corp, C-S Jazz band, a vintage baseball game, games and vendors and more.
Valentine reviewed how Memorial Day was started. He noted in April, 1866, flowers honoring the fallen were placed on gravesites. He said a group of woman decorating the graves of Confederate soldiers noticed the dilapidated and bare state of the Union soldiers at Shiloh. He said they took some of the first steps to heal the wounds of war, taking flowers and sharing them on the enemy graves. Valentine said two years later the Grand Army of the Republic established Decoration day on May 5, 1868 to place flowers on the graves of the Veterans of the American Civil War. In 1966 Congress and President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, NY the “Birthplace” of Memorial Day. It would not be until 1971 that it was declared a National Holiday.
Valentine then noted how the fight against tyranny and oppression “is one that our nation has stood ready for and answered the call to for more than 200 years.”
The Climax man talked about the sacrifices and brave acts that were made in World War I that claimed the lives of 53,000 Americans who were killed in action and overall more than 320,000 lives were lost.
Valentine talked about the bravery that followed an attack on our nation on December 7, 1941 in Hawaii.
“Men like Samuel Adams who in June of 1942 in the battle of Midway while fighting arial combat, also was able to radio in the location of Japanese war ships. The following day, Lieutenant Adams was killed in action when engaging the Japanese destroyer Tanikaze,” said Valentine.
Valentine noted a huge amount of sacrifice that came from the 2nd World War that took an estimated 420,000 American lives.
He said similar acts of bravery and sacrifice was made by those who were called for service in the Korean War, also known as the “forgotten war” to many.
“We continue to honor them, the nearly 36,000 American Service members who perished during the war,” said Valentine.
Looking further into our nation’s history, Valentine said it is important to honor those who sacrificed their lives in the jungles of Vietnam and Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War.
Again, he noted brave sacrifices were made.
“Men like Marine Corps Pfc. James Anderson Jr., who selflessly laid his life down for his comrades during a fire fight, tucking a grenade under his body, saving those around him,” said Valentine.
The retired sergeant talked about the need to remember the men and women who answered the call in 1983 to assist with the invasion of a communist regine 100 miles north of Venezuela, Grenada.
And less then 10 years later, that willingness to answer the call was made again by men and women who fought in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Shield, when 96 Americans gave their lives for our nation in combat during that time.
Valentine recalled the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on our own soil, asking visitors to remember those that helped that day.
“This Memorial Day, we also would like to honor the fallen firefighters, police, EMS and other public service personnel who take the call to serve our communities with honor, selfless acts and have given their lives for our nation and way of life,” said the Climax man.
Sacrifices and courageous acts that were carried out by our service members during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001 and two years later in 2003 when the war on terrorism brought our military service members to remove the regime in Iraq under the leadership of Saddam Hussein were noted by Valentine.
While it is important to remember those who have served our nation with dignity and honor, Valentine adds it’s important to help our veterans today who continue to suffer from not just the physical wounds from war, but mental struggles. He said an average of 22 veterans a day take their own lives.
“I want to encourage my brothers and sisters in uniform and those of us who have hung our uniforms up, to remember the loss of these brothers and sisters. That we remember to check on each other as those who have gone before us would surely want us to,” said Valentine.
“I pray that on this somber day of remembrance that we have faith in our Lord Jesus, we will once again get to see our loved ones who have gone before us. And that we would celebrate their sacrifices today with a somber joy in the freedom they gave their ultimate sacrifice for us to have,” added Valentine.
The ceremony concluded with the rifle squad representing the Climax-Scotts American Legion Post #465 and taps.
The rifle squad, representing C-S American Legion Post #465, and the trumpet player who played taps, are pictured at the Memorial Day ceremony in Prairie Home Cemetery.
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