Fallen veterans honored at Memorial Day services

Published 5:00 pm Tuesday, May 29, 2018

McALPIN, Fla. — With a wife and son having served in the military, Memorial Day and Veterans Day have held special meaning for Sam St. John.

So Suwannee County’s sheriff was honored to take part in Monday’s Memorial Day ceremony, which was held at the American Legion Harry C. Gray II Memorial Post 107 in McAlpin with inclement weather expected in Live Oak at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

“I am blessed to come from a family who serve and recognize a badge of honor,” St. John said. “Holidays such as Veterans Day and Memorial Day bring back intense memories of my wife being deployed to Iraq. Not being able to call or hold her anytime I wanted to. Not being able to watch her sleep peacefully at night or listen to my stupid jokes. I am blessed to be able to thank God for bringing her safely home to me.

“My wife always tells me that Memorial Day is to remember those who have fallen, not the ones who have safely come home. I argue with her that I can celebrate her and the rest of our heroes any day.”

St. John was far from alone in celebrating those heroes Monday. The Legion hall in McAlpin was packed for the Live Oak ceremony. Branford and the American Legion Glisson James Post 59 had held a ceremony earlier Monday morning as well.

While St. John may argue with his wife Tori on whether he can celebrate her safe return on Memorial Day, its purpose isn’t lost on him nor those who attended Monday’s solemn ceremony.

“Today we pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice because they were committed to duty, to honor and our country,” St. John said. “We are blessed to live in a country where such an air of patriotism is found, where freedom is defended around the world on the shoulders of fearless warriors dedicated to a cause, filled with a purpose and willing to place country above self.

“When I think about all that has been accomplished while the living heroes and tenants and those who are here only in spirit, I am at awe. I am honored to stand in the midst of patriots and the family and friends of those American men and women, who entered the country’s call to serve.”

One of those that answered the call to serve was Dr. Paul Varnes, a retired professor at the University of Florida. The featured speaker at Branford’s ceremony, Varnes told those in attendance of the battle for Pork Chop Hill during the Korean War. It was a battle in which Varnes was injured, later receiving the combat infantry badge, the bronze star with a “V” device for valor and two purple hearts.

During the battle in which 2,500 soldiers were lost in five days of fighting, Varnes and the men in his company were able to take the first knob on Pork Chop Hill. But that success was not known until the following day when reinforcements arrived since they didn’t have a radio.

“Combat is not like what anybody thinks,” Varnes said, adding that they had to dodge friendly fire as well while waiting for assistance. “Its not like any movie that I’ve ever seen.

You don’t just go marching and running up there. You’re here, there and shots are hitting all around you.

“That was really the beginning of the war for me.”

But not Varnes’ last fight.

Rather he, like others with the American Legion posts, have battled to make sure veterans of all ages receive the recognition their service deserves.

“I feel like today should be specified for all those that we lost in the various wars,” Varnes said.

But Alonzo Philmore, quoting Gen. George Patton, said Memorial Day should be one of celebration, not sorrow.

“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived,” Philmore said, quoting Patton.