The coronavirus crisis this year has canceled an onslaught of usual spring and summertime activities, including a number of Memorial Day parades and festivities, but American Legion Post 173 Commander Tim Shaw said Monday during service at the Bellefontaine Cemetery that at least the organization could still host the small ceremony, which was made available to the media and a contingent of supporters.
“The parade doesn’t mean as much as the actual ceremony,” he said, with the Logan County Veteran Honor Guard standing at attention behind him.
“For a lot of veterans, Memorial Day is every day. We don’t want to see the ones we lost to be forgotten. It’s because of their sacrifices that we can live free and have our barbecues and cook-outs on this beautiful day.”
Bellefontaine Mayor Ben Stahler also addressed the small group, noting that the United States has recognized Memorial Day since the time of the Civil War.
“We owe our deepest expressions of gratitude to those who have gone before us for the many freedoms that we enjoy today,” he said.
Although the organization did not have the chance to host a parade this year, the American Legion still honored the local hero who would have served as the grand marshal of the parade — U.S. Air Force veteran Fred Brackney, who served during the Vietnam War. He laid a wreath during the ceremony by the grave sites of World War I veterans.
Prior to the ceremony, representatives also placed a wreath at the Vietnam Memorial across the street from the cemetery along Allison Road, Shaw said.
Brackney, a 1967 Bellefontaine High School graduate, served four years active duty in the Air Force in Vietnam between April 1969 and April 1973. He was recognized earlier this year during the Vietnam Veterans Day ceremony at the Logan County Courthouse in March, as previously detailed in the Examiner.
At that time, he was presented with an American flag that has flown over the Capitol building in Washington D.C., as well the Ohio Statehouse and Logan County Courthouse.
Stationed at DaNang Airfield in the Republic of Vietnam, Sgt. Brackney distinguished himself with meritorious service as a jet engine mechanic in the engine conditioning section of the 366th Field Maintenance Squadron. His work earned him an Air Force Commendation Medal in February 1972.
That work ethic was forged on the rural farmlands of Logan County, the Bellefontaine resident previously said, recalling youthful memories of milking cows before school, and setting his own alarm to get up in the morning.
The Logan County Veteran Honor Guard member Tom Smith concluded the ceremony with a rendition of Taps, and the honor guard’s rifle squad performed a 21-gun salute.
Despite the restrictions that go along with the pandemic, Logan County Veterans Honor Guard representatives report that last rites for Logan County veterans who have passed away are still available.
“During the COVID-19 shutdown, there were several Logan County veterans who passed away without the benefit of last rites that are due to deceased veterans,” members said. “The Logan County Veterans Honor Guard would like families of deceased veterans to know that we would be honored to provide a memorial service to those families, who would desire last military rites for their deceased veteran.”
Interested families should contact the funeral home that served them, and the funeral home will contact the honor guard.
“Providing that there isn’t a conflict in our schedule, we are very flexible in our availability,” members said.