Veterans’ Observance Notes ‘Cost of Freedom’
Island Vets Honored on Memorial Day
By Jessica Delaney

During a Memorial Day service, interpreters leave Fort Makinac for the Post Cemetery, where they placed a wreath at the grave of soldier Edwin Gaskills.

Memorial Day has always served as a day honoring those men and women who have fought in the armed services. This past holiday weekend, World War II veteran William Porter asked citizens to add another meaning to the patriotic day, saying that the day should serve as a reminder of the cost of freedom in everybody’s life, regardless of military service.

“I hold that the very strength of our lives as free men and women is based on our everyday institutions,” said Mr. Porter in the Memorial Day Service held at 11:30 a.m.in Veteran’s Park. “We are all here to pay a price for freedom.”

At right: Paul Wandrie, commander of the Mackinac Island American Legion Post 299, during the memorial service at Veterans Park.

Mr. Porter spoke about the cost of freedom in everyday lives. He reminded those gathered that even though many of the young people of the country were not alive during some of the world’s greatest conflicts, past wars still have a significant effect on lives today. He stressed the importance of civilian institutions in maintaining a free country, and put special emphasis on strong, loving homes and family support.

“The cause of freedom is always with us,” he said. “The cost is small, and the return immeasurable.”

Former Michigan Senator Walter North, who served as master of ceremonies for the Mackinac Island service, asked the gathered crowd to honor veterans not only on Memorial Day, but on every day of the year, and extolled soldiers for the service they have rendered America.

“This is what America is all about,” said Mayor Margaret Doud of the service, and she offered a prayer for all those who in the past, present, and future, have supported America.

Paul Wandrie, the commander of the Mackinac Island American Legion, read the names of some of the soldiers in Iraq who recently died. He also spoke about those from Mackinac Island who served in past wars and encouraged all those assembled to pay tribute all veterans.

“Our heroes,” he said, “are those that fell in battle and never returned,” and he read the names of Mackinac Island soldiers who were killed in action, Joseph Chapman during World War II, John St. Onge during the Korean War, and James Dankowski in Vietnam.

The national anthem was sung by Mary Slevin and the Reverend Vincent Carroll of Little Stone Church opened the ceremony with a prayer for all those who have served the country and gave closed it with the benediction.

Earlier in the day, historical interpreters from Mackinac State Historic Parks marched from Fort Mackinac along Garrison Road to the Post Cemetery. There, park director Phil Porter noted that when soldiers still garrisoned the fort, Memorial Day would involve a march of soldiers, clergy, civilians, and musicians to Island cemeteries where flowers would be placed on the graves of Civil War veterans. The tradition continues today. A wreath donated by Joan Slater and her family was laid on the grave of Captain Edwin C. Gaskill, followed by three rifle volleys and the playing of Taps.