Memorial Day reminder from St. George service: Our military made ‘sacrifices upon the altar of freedom’

Written by Stephanie DeGraw
May 29, 2023

ST. GEORGE — Servicemen and women who never got to take off their uniforms were honored at Sun River Park’s 12th Annual Memorial Day Service on Monday.

Master of Ceremonies and Chairman of the Sun River Veterans Honor Park Trustees Thomas Cover shared with the large crowd that some Americans are confused by the three days dedicated to military service. Cover explained that Armed Forces Day is for those still wearing the uniform, Veterans Day honors those who have taken off the uniform and Memorial Day honors those who never got to take off the uniform.

“All the cemeteries around the world are filled with American war dead,” Cover said, “a testimony to American sacrifices upon the altar of freedom. So please stop wishing others a ‘Happy Memorial Day.'”

He said Memorial Day is a time for memories. Cover added that many people have lost friends and family this past year.

Guest speaker Sgt. Maj. Larry Chaston, who joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1969, served in the Vietnam War as a radio operator and a forward observer calling in naval gunfire. Chaston provided close air support in both Korea and Vietnam.

He later earned a bachelor’s degree in statistics from Brigham Young University, as well as a master’s degree from Arizona State University in Industrial and Management Systems Engineering.

Eventually, Chaston transferred to the Army 19th Special Forces Group — the Green Berets. He saw combat in Afghanistan as a sergeant major in 2001 as a part of the Special Forces. Chaston has received many military medals, including the Bronze Star and Meritorious Service Medal.

Before his remarks, Chaston recognized his parents, who were in attendance. Chaston father, Norton Chaston, is a World War II veteran. At 97 years old, he was an original crew member of the USS Roosevelt. And as a 19-year-old ensign in 1945, he was presented with his plank certificate by first lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

A Vietnam veteran receiving his 50th Anniversary Vietnam War commemorative lapel pin from Honorary Chapter Regent Valerie King, Color Country Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, St. George, Utah, May 29, 2023 | Photo courtesy Valerie King, St. George News

Chaston said his mother, Gloria Duncan Chaston, is a descendant of John Duncan of Acworth, New Hampshire; he fought at Concord and Lexington in 1775, the first battle of the Revolutionary War. Chaston’s sister Carolyn and her husband David Moore, an Army veteran, attended. Their son Tyler served two tours in Afghanistan in the 82nd Airborne and is laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.

Chaston began his remarks on the history of the day. Memorial Day was originally for honoring those who died in the American Civil War. It was formerly called Decoration Day in 1868. Then John A. Logan, a former congressman and the commander of a veterans organization, promoted a national holiday on May 30 at Arlington National Cemetery. Logan asked for flowers or decorations to be placed on the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country.

Chaston then focused his remarks on honoring military chaplains. He said they are sometimes forgotten. These military officers comfort the living and care for the dead. In Vietnam, Chaston said the chaplains were called “sky pilots.”

One of Chaston’s Revolutionary War ancestors John Duncan had 10 sons and grandsons who served in the Civil War. His youngest son Theron Duncan and Theron’s son John Bell Duncan enlisted and served together in the 3rd New Hampshire Regiment. Chaston shared their experience. On  Sept. 6, 1863, it was determined to try another charge upon Fort Wagner, and Gen. Terry selected the third New Hampshire to lead what he called the “forlorn hope.”

“Col. Randlett was in command of the regiment. Just before ‘Taps,’ word came that Fort Wagner was to be stormed at daybreak; they were invited to lead this ‘forlorn hope,'” Chaston said. 

The colonel was anxious and consulted his chaplain who advised the colonel to let the men decide for themselves. The chaplain told the men to “calmly and deliberately, and at midnight, come back and tell us your answer.”

Members of the American Legion preparing to present flags at a ceremony at Sun River Park’s 12th Annual Memorial Day Service, St. George, Utah, May 29, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Valerie King, St. George News

Chaston said all the service members returned and reported for service and sacrifice. The chaplain told the men, “Go to your tents, write your letters, settle your worldly affairs and whatever sins you have upon your consciences unconfessed, ask God to forgive them. As usual, I will go with you, and the Lord does with us as seemeth Him good.”

Chaston shared some anecdotes about the military chaplains he met in the U.S. Army and Marine Corps throughout his long career. He described one experience from the Vietnam War. 

In 1970, Chaston was a Marine at age 19 in Vietnam, where he met Sgt. Joe, a Jewish soldier in the 101st Airborne. Sgt. Joe would hang out at night with Chaston and the Marines in their bunker at Quang Tri Combat base. One evening a rabbi, a Jewish chaplain, came into the bunker. Sgt. Joe immediately stopped what he was doing and listened and talked with the rabbi. 

“We are all spiritual; it is good to meet with those that care about us. Never turn down a visit from the Chaplain,” Sgt. Joe told Chaston .

Another experience Chaston shared involved his deployment in Afghanistan. He served at Firebase Chapman, near Khowst on the Pakistan border. Along with running a Special Forces team and 500 Mujahedeen/Afghan soldiers, his team was also the liaison between the U.S. Army and the Afghan government. 

“We worked with Gov. Taninwal of Khowst, Paktia and Paktika provinces. As we waited for the 82nd Airborne commanding general to arrive, I sat and talked with Gov. Abdul Hakim Taninwal,” Chaston said. “He told me he had been a sociology professor who had been in exile for 20 years in Melbourne, Australia.”

Then Gov. Taninwal returned to Afghanistan following the fall of the Taliban government in late 2001. He was requested by Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president, to serve his country. Still, he was sure he would be killed before he completed his term as governor.

“Gov. Taninwal stated that Afghanistan had been at war for over 2,000 years and that there would never be peace here until they as Muslims began forgiving each other and not continually demanding retribution and revenge with their brother Muslims.” 

Chaston said he thought the governor would make an excellent spiritual leader. He said the governor did a lot of good for his people in the six months they worked together. But then Gov. Taninwal was assassinated by a suicide bomber who walked up to his car on Sept. 10, 2006. Chaston ended his speech with a plea for brotherly love.

“I have hope that someday we can love all our neighbors as God has commanded,” Chaston said. “May we all leave here this Memorial Day honoring those who cared for and those that gave their lives for our freedoms. God bless these United States of America.”

After his remarks, Chaston was awarded the 50-Year Vietnam Medal from the Daughters of the American Revolution. Also, Honorary Chapter Regent Valerie King, Color Country Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, said a record number of 65 Vietnam veterans were presented pins for the service after the ceremony ended.

The chapter Daughters is a registered commemorative partner with the Department of Defense. King said they are authorized to present the 50th Anniversary Vietnam War commemorative lapel pin to eligible veterans who served our nation between 1955 and 1975.

Another ceremony highlight included Carole Cover reading the poem attributed to “Taps.” The official military “Taps” is played by a single bugle or trumpet at dusk, during flag ceremonies and at military funerals by the U.S. Armed Forces:

“Day is done, gone the sun,
From the hills, from the lake, from the skies.
All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.

Go to sleep, peaceful sleep,
may the soldieror sailor, God keep.
On the land or the deep, Safe in sleep.

Love, good night, must thou go,
when the day, and the night need thee so?
All is well. Speedeth all To their rest.

Fades the light;
And afar Goeth day,
And the stars Shineth bright,
Fare thee well;
Day has gone, night is on.

Thanks and praise, for our days,
‘Neath the sun, Neath the stars, ‘Neath the sky,
As we go, this we know, God is nigh.”

Also supporting the annual Memorial Day Service were the Sons of the American Revolution, American Legion Post 142, Marine Corps League 1270, Riders of Southern Utah, Knights of Columbus 4th Degree Honor Guard, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Daughters of the American Revolution. Special guests included members of the St. George Fire and Police departments and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Also, bagpipe player John Mayer performed.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephanie DeGraw is an award-winning journalist. For 25 years, she engaged in journalism, broadcasting and public relations. DeGraw worked for the Salt Lake Tribune, Associated Press and The City Journals. She was a reporter for a CBS television station in Twin Falls, Idaho. She graduated from Weber State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and Broadcasting.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews

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