Page 3 - The Wayne Dispatch

Air Force veteran speaks at memorial flag raising
By Carolyn Marnon
A large crowd gathered around
Wayne’s new Veteran’s Memorial
Wednesday, September 30, for the of-
ficial flag raising ceremony. The ma-
jority of attendees wore masks.
Chairs were socially distanced. Many
stood encircling the space.
Over $100,000 was raised over
the last four years to bring this
dream to honor our military veter-
ans to life. The memorial is accessi-
ble year-round. Three benches look
towards the memorial to provide
space for contemplation. Several
parking spaces face the memorial for
those veterans who are unable or do
not wish to get out of their vehicle.
It’s a place where veterans can pon- Retired Air Force Colonel Charles L. Cone, the guest speaker, talks to Mayor Rhaesa about his dad John A. Rhaesa being a
der thoughts they can never share
with anyone else. veteran. Photos by Doug Bargerstock
As the Pledge of Allegiance was re-
cited on a cool autumn day, occa-
sional raindrops fell from the sky,
like teardrops for all who gave their
lives during their military service.
Wayne Mayor John Rhaesa spoke
about the courage, pride, determina-
tion, selflessness, dedication and in-
tegrity of those who have served this
country.
Mayor Pro-Tem Tom Porter, who
is a veteran himself, was unable to
be at the ceremony as he is fighting
his own battle, a private one, with
cancer. He did send a message that
was read saying in part “It’s a place
to say thank you to all who served.”
Pastor Seth McDonald of Hill
Crest Bible Church praised the me-
morial as a place where future gener-
ations will know of the sacrifices Retired soldier U.S. Army Sergeant E8 Paul and Ginger Cook of Wayne listen to Re- II paratrooper who had a newborn
made before them. tired Air Force Colonel Charles L. Cone at the Memorial Dedication.
Retired Air Force Colonel Charles
L. Cone, the guest speaker, ap-
proached the podium to share his
thoughts. “Most of us can hardly
move around!” he chuckled to the
crowd. Col. Cone wanted to be a
naval aviator when he was growing
up; his passion was flying. He raised
and sold beans to earn the money
needed for flying lessons. He grew up
and became a Naval Aviator. He later
transferred his commission to the
Air Force in time to serve in the Ko-
rean War. He completed his military
tour in Vietnam and retired in 1973.
He became an active flight instructor.
In speaking of his service, he
choked up and paused for a moment
as he shared how he gets a lump in
his throat and a tear in his eye when-
ever he hears The Star-Spangled
Banner and Taps. Taps means a vet
has gone to glory, he said. He told the
crowd that we cannot accept the
burning and disrespect of our flag.
Men and women of the armed serv-
ices are there to protect you, he said.
Service members and vets have
taken on special responsibilities to
maintain our way of life.
Col. Cone remembered eleven of
his crew members who were killed
in a plane crash as they were prepar-
ing to go on leave. One of those killed
was his roommate. He had experi-
ences where he had to inform a wife
of the death of her husband, and
then had to visit the man’s parents to
inform them. He knew a World War
son. He had made jumps in Africa,
Italy, Normandy and then was killed
in Belgium. He never “met” his son.
In an ironic twist, as soon as Col.
Cone was done speaking, the clouds
opened up and rain started coming
down over the gathered crowd.
Wayne Police Officer and veteran
Jordan Arndt, Wayne Police Officer
and veteran Joshua Priebe, and
Wayne Fire Department and veteran
Captain Dave Wylie raised the flags,
the American flag and the POW/MIA
flag, over the Veterans Memorial to
close the ceremony.
The Wayne Memorial High School
Zebra Marching Band played an
American medley of songs as the
skies opened up and a downpour
Wayne Memorial High School JROTC before presenting of the Colors. began.
The Wayne Dispatch · October 2020 · 3