Memorial service honors those fallen, recovered, yet missing; Cedar City News Photo Gallery

Written by Kevin Robison
May 26, 2014
Memorial Day Recognition and Veteran's Memorial Service was held at the Cedar City Cemetery, Cedar City, Utah, May 26, 2014 | Photo taken by Kevin Robison, Cedar City News

CEDAR CITY – A Memorial Day Recognition and Veterans Memorial Service was held Monday morning at the Cedar City Cemetery. Both veterans and the general public gathered for the annual service at the Cedar City Veterans Memorial located in the cemetery.

“My dad was a Korean War vet, and to pay honor and tribute to any veterans is like paying honor and tribute to my own family,” said Roger Graves, Utah State Coordinator for the Missing in America Project. “When you look at the veterans community they really are just a great big family.”

Although Graves did not serve in the military himself, he does what he can to honor those who have.

Memorial Day Recognition and Veteran's Memorial Service was held at the Cedar City Cemetery, Cedar City, Utah, May 26, 2014 | Photo taken by Kevin Robison, Cedar City News
Memorial Day Recognition and Veteran’s Memorial Service was held at the Cedar City Cemetery, Cedar City, Utah, May 26, 2014 | Photo taken by Kevin Robison, Cedar City News

“Our main purpose is to locate, identify and enter the unclaimed cremated remains of veterans,” Graves said.” We go to local funeral homes, coroner’s offices, hospitals and we inventory any unclaimed they have. If they’re veterans we give them a full-honors military funeral.”

During the memorial service, Ronald Lewis, retired U.S. Navy captain, pilot in Vietnam, and a member of the American Legion, held a moment of silence for the fallen – both those recovered, and those still missing.

Lewis also recognized a Cedar City soldier who is still missing from the Korean War. The missing veteran, Thiel Reeves, now has a memorial gravesite in the Cedar City Cemetery next to his parents’ gravesites.

“I’m dedicated to the missing people,” Lewis said, “I go around the country giving presentations about the people that are still missing.”

Lewis constantly wears a bracelet as reminder of his fellow fallen missing pilots.

“I still have three pilots that are missing from my first crews as a ranger,” Lewis said, “I will never forget them, that’s why I had this bracelet made.”

As part of the service, a poster was displayed that had the pictures of all the military personnel who passed away this past year.

Poster honoring fallen veterans over the past year, Cedar City, Utah, May 26, 2014 | Photo taken by Kevin Robison, Cedar City News
Poster honoring fallen veterans over the past year, Cedar City, Utah, May 26, 2014 | Photo taken by Kevin Robison, Cedar City News

“Standing here looking at a poster of all the fallen veterans from just this past year and just standing there looking at that,” Evan Vickers, Utah state senator, said, “and see how young they are and the sacrifice they made for our freedom, it brings tears to your eyes.”

Veterans, family and friends were remembered and honored as the crowd gathered to pay their respects.

“Quite frankly there’s no better place to be on Memorial Day than to be here among those that are honoring the veterans that have gone before, that fought for our freedoms,” Vickers said.

When the memorial service ended, many stayed as flowers were laid on graves and to pay homage.

Click on photo to enlarge it, then use your left-right arrow keys to cycle through the gallery.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2014, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kevin Robison made his way to Southern Utah to run cross country and track at Southern Utah University. After graduating he stayed in Southern Utah and worked in advertising and public relations. While working in public relations he gained an interest and respect for the journalism field. He is currently working towards a Master of Arts in Professional Communication at Southern Utah University. In his free time he enjoys running, hiking and skiing.

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1 Comment

  • COMBAT VET AND FREE May 27, 2014 at 8:19 am

    “All gave some….some gave all”.

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