Folks begin to gather at the FrontLine Honors Ceremony at Faribault American Legion Post 43. This Sunday marked the largest attendance since the event began following 9/11.
OUTSIDE FARIBAULT AMERICAN Legion Post 43, shortly before 1 p.m. Sunday, the crowd began to gather.
Many Vietnam veterans attended the ceremony.
Veterans. Their wives. Relatives of veterans. Those who care about those who’ve served. Patriotic Americans.
The Color Guard awaits the start of the ceremony as does Carter Quinlan, who later will receive an American flag honoring the Quinlan family.
On the third Sunday of every month, every Sunday since September 11, 2001, the Legion has hosted a FrontLine Honors Ceremony honoring those service members who have died in the past 30 days while serving their country.
Carter Quinlan salutes in respect during the ceremony.
This month the list of deceased included 14 Americans—Sonny, Benjamin, Errol, Tracy, Hilda, Justin, Corey, Javier, Justin, Ember, Robert, William, Jared, Jesse.
Someone’s son. Someone’s daughter.
Hometown men and women from places like Waynesfield, Ohio; Kennewick, Washington; and Gentry, Arkansas.
Some dead due to hostile rocket fire and other attacks, others for non-hostile reasons.
American Legion Post Commander Kirk Mansfield leads the ceremony and reads the names of the deceased.
On the informational sheet distributed to those in attendance, a line typed across the bottom summarizes well the purpose of the gathering:
These 14 Americans have sacrificed their lives for you and your country. Never forget.
Young Carter hugs the American flag, which he accepted in honor of his military family.
I expect many in attendance will also remember the presentation of the Legion’s American flag to 4 ½-year-old Carter Quinlan. Each month the Legion’s U.S. flag is retired and gifted to a local military family, on this Sunday the Quinlans of Faribault. Carter, who stood as solemn and respectful as any adult in attendance, accepted the folded flag on behalf of his father, Derek; grandfather, Mark; and uncle, Travis. (Click here to read a previous post on this presentation.)
A new flag was then hoisted to fly for another month outside the Legion, where, on the third Sunday of August, at 1 p.m., folks will gather again for another FrontLine Honors Ceremony.
BONUS FLAG PRESENTATION PHOTOS:
Mark Quinlan, who served with the U.S. Navy and Air Force, lowers the flag to be presented to his grandson, Carter.
The respectful process begins of properly folding the U.S. flag.
The flag folding continues…
Carter accepts the flag for his military family.
Another shot of the crowd near the end of the service.
FYI: Watch for a forthcoming post about the dedication of a veterans’ memorial on private property along Roberds Lake, rural Faribault.
© Copyright 2013 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
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