Veterans Day speech focuses on sacrifices of veterans, their families

Milton Women's Club member Cathy Stanley, of Milton, sings the National Anthem to open Milton's Veterans Day observance on Tuesday. (Lebanon Voice/Harrison Thorp photos)

MILTON - Air Force CMSGT Brian Taatjes asked all the veterans present at Milton's Veterans Day observance to raise their hands.

A couple of handfuls of those who served dutifully did so.

Then he asked all those who had a family member who served to do the same, prompting the overwhelming majority of the more than 100 in attendance to raise their hands.

It was to these family members left behind, who often have to pick up the slack on the home front, that Taatjes chose to also recognize during his keynote speech at Veterans Park on Tuesday morning.

Taatjes, who just retired from the service two weeks ago, was one of several who spoke during the ceremony, the lasting memory of which will be Milton Women's Club member Cathy Stanley striding purposefully to the podium for an impromptu a ca pela singing of the National Anthem after a musical recording of "The Star Spangled Banner" was unavailable due to unforeseen technical difficulties.

Linda Rackliffe, pastor of Milton Community Church, leads the closing prayer during Veterans Day exercises at Veterans Park in Milton on Tuesday.

After a couple of minutes of organizers trying to find the anthem on an audio tape machine, Stanley volunteered her wonderful voice in the name of expediency. Milton VFW Post 8393 Commander Bob Graham quickly assented and Stanley sang a flawless rendition, hitting every single high note to boot.

Asked after the ceremony if she'd ever performed the song before, she said no.

"I was just hoping not to forget the words," she grinned.

Not only did the longtime civic-minded club provide emergency music. It also provided coffee, apple cider and doughnuts for everyone who came.

Stanley, in his remarks, thanked town resident Les Elder, who spearheaded a drive to replace and repair benches in the park that were vandalized last fall.

Milton's State Representative John Mullin Jr. also spoke during the observance, which was also attended by Milton Boy Scout Troop 155 and Cub Scout Pack 155.