Dixon Holds Ceremonies Honoring Fallen Veterans[Dixon Veterans News - May 26, 2003] A bright and sunny day greeted Dixon's citizens who turned out to honor their fallen veterans on this 2003 Memorial Day holiday. The ceremonies started at the Dixon War Memorial at the corner of C and 1st streets. At 10 AM, a color guard of members of Dixon's American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars (Mike Brown, Al DeJesus, Tony Chavez, and Jeremiah Christensen) posted the American Flag and POW/MIA flag at the site. American Legion Post 208 Chaplain Ray Lein led the assembled audience in an invocation. Post 208 Commander Bob Havlin and VFW Post 8151 Commander Jim Harris laid a wreath at the memorial and said a few words to remember Dixon's fallen veterans. Ceremonies then moved to Silveyville cemetery on the south side of Dixon. There are 563 veterans buried at Silveyville as well at 12 at Tremont cemetery, and an unknown number at the Maine Prairie cemetery. After a prayer by Chaplain Lein, ITCS Tony Chavez, an active duty Navy NCO stationed at Travis AFB, laid a wreath on the grave to honor the fallen unknown soldier. The grave contains the remains of an unknown Civil War soldier. The honors concluded with a ceremony at the veterans memorial flag at the southwest corner of the cemetery. Post Commanders Harris and Havlin lowered the flag to half staff. An invocation and commemoration was given by past Post 208 Chaplain Lloyd Ash. He reminded the crowd, that on this day, we should remember those who gave their lives so that we may live free: "Freedom is never truly free". A wreath was placed at the flag by ITCS Chavez and Beverly Schillinger, widow of veteran Herb Schillinger who passed away this past year. A firing detail of members of both Legion and VFW post members (Al DeJesus, Mike Hagerman, Kevin Kilkenny, Bill Fairfield, Mike Brown, Ray Lein, Jeremiah Christensen, and Ed Bartosh) presented a 21-round rifle salute which was followed by the playing of "Taps." Commander Havlin gave closing remarks and thanked those who attended the ceremony and invited them to a reception afterwards at the Veterans Memorial Hall in Dixon catered by the American Legion and Auxiliary. The VFW Post 8151 would also like to thank the citizens of Dixon for their generous donations to the "Buddy Poppy" program this weekend at the Pitt School Road Safeway. Donations are used only to support veterans' welfare and the well being of their families. The American Legion Post 208, founded in 1920, was established to help local veterans and their families, as well as local children and youth, and foster a sense of pride and Americanism. Membership is open to any service member who has served in a time of conflict. Post 208 meets on the first Wednesday of the month in the Veterans Memorial Hall at 231 N. First Street at 7 PM. Post 8151 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, chartered in 1987, was established to assist veterans through community service programs and special projects, such as providing free phone cards to our nation's active-duty military personnel to raising money for the World War II memorial, "honoring the dead by helping the living." Membership is open to any service member who has served overseas in a conflict or in Korea. Post 8151 meets on the third Thursday of the month in the Veterans Memorial Hall at 231 N. First Street at 7:30 PM. For more information on Dixon Veterans organizations and their activities, visit their web site at www.DixonVeterans.org. Pictures by Ed Bartosh and Kevin Kilkenny. (click on a picture to enlarge it)
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