City honors fallen military in commemoration

BY Kelly Lopez

Canyon Lakers gathered around the city’s Veterans Memorial Monument in the Canyon Lake Town Center to take a few minutes from the Memorial Day holiday to honor fallen men and women who lost their lives in military service to the United States.

Bert Barbay speaks at the city Veteran’s Memorial Monument in the Canyon Lake Town Center to commemorate those who gave their lives in active military service at the Memorial Day celebration Monday. A one-minute moment of silence was taken by all present to remember those who sacrificed their lives for American freedom.

Bert Barbay began the tradition five years ago. He served in the Navy for six years and felt a need to do something on Memorial Day to honor veterans who gave their lives for the nation. Bert said he was originally involved with the flag salute on Veterans Day. He and Nancy Horton started the Veterans Day flag salute, but he remembered thinking “we don’t have anything for Memorial Day.”

Congress 20 years ago declared 3:00 p.m. on Memorial Day to be a National Moment of Remembrance. The declaration asks Americans, wherever they may be, to stop what they are doing and take a minute of silence to remember men and women who have died in military service to the United States.

The flag salute at the Veterans Memorial Monument starts at 3:00 p.m. every year. More than 20 people participated in this year’s event. Bert started the commemoration by leading everyone in The Pledge of Allegiance and then spoke about Memorial Day and its history.

Bert explained that Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day. It originated shortly after the Civil War. It was made an official federal holiday in 1971. Bert differentiated Veterans Day and Memorial Day by pointing out that Memorial Day commemorates service men and women who have died in the line of duty.

Then Canyon Lake Mayor Jordan Ehrenkranz said a few words to honor the nation’s fallen veterans.

“We are here to honor those who wrote the blank check,” Jordan said. “Those who said, ‘Here I am, send me’.”

Nancy Horton speaks at the city Veteran’s Memorial Monument in the Canyon Lake Town Center during the Memorial Day salute to veterans.

Nancy Horton read the poem In Flanders Fields by John McCrae, which is written from the point of view of fallen soldiers pleading with the living to “Take up our quarrel with the foe: to you from failing hands we throw the torch; be yours to hold it high.”

The ceremony closed with singing “God Bless America.” Individuals were encouraged to remember loved ones by saying something about them.