WESTOVER — Three area veterans spent much of Wednesday marking the original Memorial Day by honoring fallen military men and women.
Since 1971, Memorial Day has been celebrated the last Monday in May, allowing for a three-day weekend. However, before Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968, Memorial Day was observed May 30, and many veterans still take the time to remember the fallen on this day.
On Wednesday May 30, three members of the Westover Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 9916 took the time to honor their fallen brothers and sisters in war, traveling to several Honor Rolls in the area.
Wilbur England, alongside his brother John England, and Mark Krofek started at the Honor Roll in Riverside and worked their way around six posts, ending at the Westover VFW, on Holland Avenue.
Wilbur said a lot of people associate the military with firing a 21-gun salute. A 21-gun salute is usually done by cannons for heads of state or presidents. What they did Wednesday was a fire detail.
It can be anywhere from two rifles to 10, depending on availability. At each Honor Roll, which lists names of those killed in war from that community, wreaths were laid, the volley was fired and Taps was played on a single trumpet.
In commemoration of Memorial Day, the VFW has been involved with other events, starting last Wednesday, including a bridge dedication near Morgantown High, on Monday.
“Just any kind of ceremony that’s asked of us, we pretty well do,” Wilbur England said.
The Westover VFW has about 15 active members, but England said they could always use more. Wilbur England served in the U.S. Navy for four years. Stationed in Japan, he was a Naval Air crewman. He was never stationed on a ship but was aboard 20 aircraft carriers.
He said it’s important to a lot of veterans that those people who died are honored.
“People that lost their lives in the service never got a chance to come home and have families, to enjoy life. They gave their all for the rest of us. It could have happened to any of us that served,” Wilbur England said.
