OPINION

County has heroes to remember on Memorial Day

Roy Wilhelm

Monday, we observe Memorial Day, a holiday to honor men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.

Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years after the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971.

The Civil War claimed more lives than any conflict in U.S. history, requiring the establishment of the country’s first national cemeteries. By the late 1860s, Americans in various towns and cities had begun holding springtime tributes to these countless fallen soldiers, decorating their graves with flowers and reciting prayers.

It is unclear where exactly this tradition began; numerous communities might have independently initiated memorial gatherings. Nevertheless, in 1966 the federal government declared Waterloo, N.Y., the official birthplace of Memorial Day. Waterloo — which first celebrated the day May 5, 1866 — was chosen because it hosted an annual, community-wide event.

The Waterloo tradition might be just fine, but it’s worth noting that Sandusky Countians have plenty of reason to pause on that day and remember local people who have given their lives to defend our rights and those who have sacrificed in many other ways to serve.

There is a long history of service among local residents.

Truth is — although he doesn’t qualify as someone who lost his life in war — John Waggoner, who is buried locally, was a “Life Guard” for General George Washington.

Several others who served in the Revolutionary War also are buried in county cemeteries.

Some of those who made the supreme sacrifice for their country were prominent in history.

Most prominent of the those, I would say, would have been Gen. James Birdseye McPherson, who was killed outside of Atlanta on July 22, 1864.

Gen. McPherson, of Clyde, technically was the second highest ranking Union officer killed in the Civil War. John Sedgwick, who was killed by a sharpshooter at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House on May 9, 1864, technically was the highest ranking by date of service. However, McPherson was in command of an Army at the time of his death, while Sedgwick was in charge of a corps, giving McPherson higher command.

McPherson was a highly regarded officer with expectations of a brilliant career, and his death was greatly mourned.

And, the county as a whole was showing its commitment to the country. According to Meek’s “History of Sandusky County,” it appears that “about 70 percent of the male population of this county, of military age, went into the service” during the Civil War.

Others through the years have earned some special places in history.

• George Burton Meek, a fireman first class aboard the torpedo boat Winslow, was reputed to be the first American-born sailor to lose his life in the Spanish-American War, killed during the battle of Cardenas Bay on May 11, 1898.

• Edgar Thurston was killed Sept. 28, 1918, in the Argonne Forest region. He was a corporal with Company K, 147th Infantry of the 37th Division, American Expeditionary Forces.

• Michael Zwir was killed May 7, 1942, during the air and sea battle of the Coral Sea. He was the first Fremonter killed in action during World War II.

In memory of Edgar Thurston and Michael Zwir, we have the Thurston-Zwir Post of the American Legion.

Then, of course, there is Rodger Young, remembered in song and story. On July 31, 1943, near Munda on New Georgia, Young performed the deeds that led to his posthumously receiving the Medal of Honor.

His patrol was returning to the US lines when they were ambushed. The men were pinned down by intense fire from five Japanese soldiers in a machine gun pit concealed on higher ground 75 yards away. Two soldiers were killed in the initial burst, and Young was wounded.

After two more men were killed, Young ignored an order to withdraw and crept towards the Japanese position. When he was close enough, he began throwing hand grenades at it. Young was hit a third time by enemy fire and was killed. Young’s determined actions caused several enemy casualties and enabled his platoon to withdraw from the ambush without further casualties.

These are a few of the heroes who are well known, but Monday we remember and honor all those who have sacrificed for our freedoms.

Roy Wilhelm started a 40-year career at The News-Messenger in 1965, as a reporter. Now retired, he is writing a weekly column for both The News-Messenger and News Herald.