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Legion post honors, celebrates lives of military heroes for Memorial Day

By Sue Sitter - | Jun 2, 2023

Sue Sitter/PCT Rugby Clarence Larson American Legion Post #23 Commander Kirk Seaver salutes a memorial to area military personnel who lost their lives in wars. Pictured to Seaver’s right is Jeremy Johnston, a member of the Sons of the American Legion.

Members of the Rugby Clarence Larson American Legion Post #23 honored those who gave the ultimate sacrifice at a Memorial Day ceremony May 29.

The ceremony opened with the presentation of the colors and Pledge of Allegiance.

Post Commander Kirk Seaver welcomed the audience and introduced Chaplain Josh Siegler, who gave the invocation and benediction at the address.

Jeremy Johnston, a member of the Sons of the American Legion, recited John McCrae’s “In Flanders Fields” to call to mind the sacrifices made by American military personnel on battlefields throughout the nation’s history.

Poppies from the American Legion Auxiliary were available to attendees at the event. The American Legion and associated organizations have used the poppy as their official flower since the 1920s, according to the National American Legion Auxiliary.

Members throughout the United States had distributed poppies on National Poppy Day, the Friday before Memorial Day.

Auxiliary members also served lunch for a free-will offering following the ceremony.

Members of the Rugby High School Band played patriotic musical selections for the ceremony.

Students Ryli Kuhnhenn and Lexi Yoder played “God Bless America” in a flute duet. Kuhnhenn’s grandfather, Daryl, was a longtime member of the Clarence Larson Post and a Vietnam Veteran. He died in 2011.

Tony Coffman, Rugby pastor and foundation director for Good Samaritan Hospital Association, gave an address to the audience. Coffman, who is an Army veteran, told of posthumous Purple Heart medals awarded to two World War I Coast Guard personnel who lost their lives on the Coast Guard Cutter Tampa.

A German U-boat torpedoed the vessel as it provided escort to merchant ships in the Bristol Channel near England on Sept. 26, 1918. Tampa Fireman Angus MacClean, First Lieutenant James Frost and more than 100 others on the cutter lost their lives in the sinking.

Although some knew of MacClean and Frost’s heroism on the day the cutter sank, Coffman said, “A flaw in the awards criteria did not permit Coast Guard veterans to receive Purple Hearts for actions that occurred before World War II.”

“This injustice has been corrected and this year, the families of Fireman MacClean and First Lieutenant Frost finally received the medals that were earned long ago by these heroes,” he added.

“The Coast Guard continues to work to identify the families and ancestors of those who have still not received the medals they have earned, attempting to correct their failure.”

Coffman also spoke about the heroism of First Sergeant Pascal Poolaw, a member of the Kiowa Nation, who received his fourth Silver Star and third Purple Heart medals posthumously. Poolaw had earned Silver Stars and Purple Hearts for service in World War II and Korea before losing his life in Loc Ninh, Vietnam during Operation Shenandoah II.

Coffman noted, “A friend of mine said yesterday, ‘There is no happy Memorial Day.’ So let us take this time to remember and honor the men and women who have given their lives for this country. Let us reflect on their courage, sacrifice and their dedication to a cause that is greater than themselves.”

“Let us recommit ourselves to the cause of freedom, justice and democracy so that the legacy of our fallen heroes will live on for generations to come,” Coffman said. We continue to mourn their loss, but most of all, we celebrate their lives.”

Before attendees moved outside for a wreath laying ceremony at the Pierce County War Veterans’ Memorial, Seaver and Post Member Sheila Ostrem rang a bell in honor of the veterans in the Rugby post who had died in the previous year.

A moment of silence to remember those who died in war, those missing in action and prisoners of war followed.

Seaver and Johnston presented the wreath at the war memorial.