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Elyites turned out en masse on Memorial Day.
The annual program at Ely’s cemetery was rich in tradition and history, and full of reminders of the community’s long history of military service and sacrifice.
The hundreds who turned out on a sunny Monday morning also heard from Greg Clancy, veterans service officer for St. Louis County.
While Clancy called Memorial Day one to remember those who have passed, he challenged the audience to live up to the memory of those now gone, and make the most of their opportunity to live.
A former Army helicopter pilot, Clancy said he thinks often of friends who lost their lives.
“I think of them when I get in a rough patch in life and feel like giving up,” said Clancy. “And I realize I’m still here and I can not quit because they don’t have that option any more.”
Clancy recalled the movie “Saving Private Ryan” where the character played by Tom Hanks told a friend to “earn this life.”
“I think that’s a strong point to make,” said Clancy. “Those of us who are survivors to try and make our lives better, more than just living and existing. I know I felt that way after returning from a year in Iraq. I felt I had earned a new lease on life.”
Clancy said that one of the lessons of Memorial Day may be that “somehow the fallen are in a better place. We are the ones, the living, the survivors, that are left to wade through the mess.”
“Many of us have left the battlefield, but not the war within our own souls,“ Clancy added. “We can’t carry that weight forever so I hope one day we can be at peace with ourselves, always remembering, always honoring the dead. and choosing to truly live, to earn our life. Those that have given their lives are in a better place and we will see them again. Maybe one day we will find they were the lucky ones. We were the ones who had to grieve, mourn and carry the pain.”
Clancy’s address capped a program that was traditional in nature, with the cemetery filled with veterans, their families, community members and a cross section of ages.
The event included the recitation of names of Ely area veterans who passed away during the last 12 months. The list was read by local veteran Gerald Tyler, adjutant of American Legion Post 248.
Steve Saari, commander of Ely American Legion Post 248, served as master of ceremonies.
Saari also saluted those who gave their lives for the nation and asked the audience to remember.
The program included bagpiper Joe Linneman playing both “Flowers of the Forest” and “Amazing Grace” along with an invocation by Reverend Herb Bloomquist of LedgeRock Community Church.
The event also included the placing of the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by members of the Moren and Herrala families, in memory of Byron Moren and Calvin Herrala.
The national anthem was sung by Elyite Matthew Janeksela and played by the Ely High School band. The Ely Honor Guard performed a gun salute to the playing of taps by honor guard commander Ron Forsman.
The event was coordinated by American Legion Post 248, VFW Post 2717 and the American Legion Auxiliary.
