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of Post 9545 and Post 1977
had died in the year since the
previous observance. Each
of those men’s names were
read during the next portion
of the ceremony.
VFW and American Legion
officers then placed
flowers on the memorial
gravestone in the center of
the cemetery, a two-shot
salute was fired into the air,
and VFW Service Officer
Timothy Terrell sounded
“Taps” to conclude the observance.
Everyone in atten-
newlenoxpatriot.com news
the New Lenox Patriot | June 1, 2017 | 3
Locals, veterans honor fallen
soldiers at Maplewood Cemetery
Jason Maholy
Freelance Reporter
Carrying clear plastic floral
bags containing a few
dozen blue and red carnations,
Mike and Sue Bultman
and their daughter,
Celeste, made their way
through Maplewood Cemetery
and gently placed a
flower on the grave of every
person who had served in the
armed forces.
The New Lenox family
wanted to show their
appreciation for those who
have served, and Mike and
Sue wanted the experience
to be educational for their
10-year-old daughter.
“We try to do it every
year,” Mike said. “We want
our daughter to know it’s
more than a day off – it’s
important, I think. We don’t
know any of these folks, but
they did something special,
so we want her to know
that.”
The Bultmans were three
of more than 200 people
who ventured out to Maplewood
Cemetery, 100 W.
Haven Ave., for the annual
Memorial Day observance
Monday, May 29, organized
by the Harry E. Anderson
VFW Post 9545 and the Tom
E. Hartung American Legion
Post 1977.
The service opened with
the uniformed officers of the
VFW and American Legion
marching into the center of
the cemetery, each group
carrying an American flag
as well as its respective gold
and blue flag. VFW Post
9545 Chaplain “Wild” Bill
Welch then said a prayer
that included a passage from
John 11:25, and a message in
remembrance of all military
service members who have
died, whether in service or
during their civilian lives.
Members of the Tom E. Hartung American Legion Post 1977
march into Maplewood Cemetery Monday, May 29, at the
start of the annual Memorial Day remembrance ceremony
which is organized by the Legion and Harry Anderson VFW
Post 9545. Photos by Jason Maholy/22nd Century Media
VFW Post 9545 Jr. Vice Cmdr. Tom McGowen lays flowers
on the veterans memorial gravestone during the Memorial
Day remembrance at Maplewood Cemetery.
“As comrade after comrade
departs, we march on
with our ranks grown thinner,”
Welch said. “Help us to
be faithful onto thee and to
one another. Look in mercy
on the widows and children
of our departed comrades;
and with thine own tenderness,
comfort those who are
bereaved.”
Memorial Day is a remembrance
of all military
veterans who died while in
service to the country, but
Welch’s remarks were topical
given that 15 members
Please see memorial, 4
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