Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
ATC John Smith, U.S. Navy Retired, hangs the wreath for the United States Navy at the Hurley Cemetery on Monday as part of their annual Memorial Day ceremony.
By MEGAN HUGHES
Hurley – The 2024 Hurley Memorial Day service drew a crowd to the city's Saint Mary's Cemetery, as residents, friends and families gathered to celebrate those who have laid down their lives in defense of America and its freedoms.
The ceremony began with a welcome from Larry Youngs, U.S. Marine Corps (retired), who spoke briefly, recognizing all those who have given their lives during their service, and thanking attendees for being present in their memory.
Following his opening remarks, members of American Legion Post 58, VFW Post 1580, and Vietnam Veterans Chapter 529 advanced the colors. With the breeze blowing through the cemetery, both flags waved the entire ceremony.
This year's guest speaker was Lt. Col. David Manki, U.S. Army (retired).
Manki is a retired lieutenant colonel originally from Ironwood, graduated from Luther L. Wright High School and Gogebic Community College, and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1972.
Manki served in Germany as an intelligence coordinator; as a company commander at Fort Hood, Texas, and at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland; as an instructor at the Intelligence Center and School In Fort Huachuca, Arizona; as an operations officer in the 205th Military Intelligence Brigade in Germany; and an instructor and exercise director at the School of Advanced Military Studies in Leavenworth, Kansas.
Locally, Manki is also known for his time as JROTC Instructor at the Luther L. Wright High School in Ironwood from 2003-2014.
"What a good morning it is," said Manki. "It is a great day to remember. We, alongside a great number of our fellow Americans, are honoring the men and women who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom."
Manki spoke about the importance of remembering those who gave their lives for those freedoms, naming several that he had the honor of knowing when he was young, and that to this day he misses them.
"Each of them died for a cause they considered more important than their own lives. Were they scared? Of course they were scared! They didn't volunteer to die; they volunteered so others could live," he said. "They volunteered to defend our values - the values that make us the United States of America. The shining light on the hill. That is who we are my friends: we are all Americans."
Following his speech, a firing squad rang out three shots in honor of those being remembered, as a member of the Hurley High School band performed TAPS.
The invocation and benediction for the ceremony were performed by the Rev. Hrudaya Raju Sunkara.
Following the ceremony, some dispersed, while others lingered for a while, walking the rows of graves, many of which belonged to veterans, and were decorated with American Flags.
