Theme of peace shared during Keokuk Veterans Day ceremony
   by Diane Vance, Daily Gate City Newspaper staff writer
   Monday-November 13, 2006

   Friday's rain gave way to a chilly, sunny Saturday that brought a small crowd to Keokuk's Veterans Memorial at the entrance of Oakland and the national cemeteries at 11 a.m. “This is not just a holiday, to have a day off work,” said Keokuk Mayor David Gudgel. “This is a day to honor men and women from New York to L.A. and those who stepped forward from the cornfields to serve their country. We honor our veterans' devotion to God and country.”
   Keokuk's American Legion Post 41 and VFW provided a color guard and honor guard for the ceremony. Dan Proctor of Keokuk played bagpipes. “We salute all veterans for preserving our precious freedom,” said Pat Hogan, commander of American Legion Post 41. “American's freedom is not a cause that ends with military service, though some have made profound sacrifices to defend that freedom. We continue our quest for honorable world peace.”
   Vice Commander of American Legion Post 41 George Morgan continued with the theme of peace. “If we talk about the glory of war and the magnificent spirit of those who made sacrifices, we also want to inspire our youth to serve in peace,” said Morgan. “We publicly honor those heroes of science who research to alleviate suffering. We honor those in public service. They have much to give. We honor educators who can teach future generations to live, laugh and love in a nation at peace. “We honor veterans and noble idealism which can translate into devotion in war or peace. We need courage in peace as well as in war. It takes bravery to fight for political and social advancements. “If war has taught us obedience to commanders, let us have obedience to the laws we ourselves make,” said Morgan. “Let us have inclusion of other people and seek peace - a higher order of discipline.”
   Several members of the audience stepped forward after the ceremony to read the names engraved on the memorial. Chief Warrant Officer Mark Miller, a helicopter pilot stationed at Fort Campbell, Ky., attended with his wife, Terri; his sister Eleanor, and her husband Jeremy Flannagan of Chicago; and his mother, Jane Miller, formerly of Keokuk, now living in Peachtree City, Ga. Miller has served two tours in Iraq and is getting ready to retire. “We're visiting, and got together here and wanted to observe Veterans Day,” said Miller. “This is a nice memorial.”