A brilliant blue sky and comfortable temperatures set the scene at Girard City Cemetery on Monday to honor fallen military members as part of a Memorial Day ceremony.

Opening the ceremony with an invocation was Pastor Rhonda Gallagher of Trinity Lutheran Church of God of Girard.

“They (the veterans) do it for us. For our safety, security and peace. We are here to remember why they did it. We are here to pray for the people who’ve survived and those who’ve not.”

She noted the darkness of “survivors’ guilt” and “war within” of what she calls the “silent sorrow,” many living veterans, such as her uncle, carry with them.

Civil Air Patrol cadets raised the flag while the Girard High School Band played the national anthem. Girard High School valedictorian Andrew Whitfield and salutatorian Sydney Swerfager recited the Gettysburg Address.

Whitfield said it was a “huge privilege and honor to have been asked to read part of the address.”

He has a personal connection to Memorial Day via his grandfather, who served in the Korean War.

The reading of all names of Girard veterans killed in combat was read by Girard High School class presidents Miles LaPolla, a freshman, Norah Anne, sophomore, Gage McMillan, a junior, and senior Madelyn Gassman.

Once the reading was completed, the Armed Forces Medley was played by the band.

There was a placing of a wreath, a rifle salute by the Girard Veterans’ Council Honor Guard, along with the playing of Taps, followed by “Amazing Grace” by bagpiper Leslie Doc.

Attending the ceremony was Paul Franklin, 79, of Niles and George Finnelli, 78, of Girard, who each served in the Vietnam War.

Finnelli became emotional as he noted he had “Signed an oath. A blank check to serve our country at all costs. I served with the best soldiers on the planet.”

Franklin said he “Had no regrets. I am proud to have served. We are here to honor those who gave everything.”

Army Navy Garrison #360 Vice Commander Richard Leak, 69, of Niles, who served in the Army

and Lorraine Federovitch, 52, of Austintown attended the ceremonies out of respect for fallen

heroes.

They also represent the nonprofit organization #360 Veterans Benefit, which is an

annual motorcycle poker run they organize and sponsor.

Ralph Archer, 73, of Girard, who served in the 1st Cavalry in Vietnam was at the ceremony with

his lifelong friend and Vietnam Veteran Louis Esposito, 75, also of Girard, who served in the Army 25th Infantry.

“We have lots of veteran friends to pay our respects to in this cemetery,” Archer said.

Esposito also commented on lost friends and said, “I was lucky to come home.”

Stephanie Spagnoletta, whose grandfather served in the Korean War, was there with her

daughters Maddox and Jaclyn. Her eldest daughter, Alexis, had been part of the ceremonies as

a saxophonist with the Girard High School Band.

“I’m proud my daughter was a part of it and gave up part of her day off to be here,” she said, adding the ceremony was “just beautiful.”