Veterans in line to read names while, seated (from left) Eric Parkhurst, Richard Formica and Dan Allmacher listen to Air Force vet Karen Cosgrove ring the bell after each one. Photo by Bonnie Hobbs.
Each year on Memorial Day, people gather in Fairfax City to honor and remember America’s fallen. And the overall message of the ceremony held May 26 was that those who’d sacrificed their lives were ordinary, everyday men and women who’d answered their country’s call to duty.
Held at American Legion Post 177, the event was hosted jointly by both it and VFW Post 8469 and emceed by VFW Commander Mac McCarl. Dignitaries attending included Del. David Bulova (D-11); Fairfax City Mayor Catherine Read; City Councilmembers Anthony Amos, Billy Bates and Tom Peterson; plus Fairfax County Sheriff Stacey Kincaid and her husband, Virginia State Police Capt. Greg Kincaid.
At the outset, though, McCarl acknowledged the recent death of U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-10th). “He was an ardent supporter of veterans,” said McCarl. “He and his staff have been the go-to people for pushing important veterans’ issues, including healthcare and suicide prevention. He’s not with us today, but his presence reflects in the wellbeing of every single person in this place and out. I thank him personally for his service to all of us.”
Post 177 Commander Eric Parkhurst then explained how this American Legion post began. “Eighty years ago, a small group of WWI veterans got together as WWII raged,” he said. “They were trying to figure out how they could help WWII veterans coming home. So they decided to start and charter an American Legion in Fairfax.”
Part of that group was Fairfax native and WWI veteran Amos Chilcott, who donated more than 9 acres of his apple orchard for the building site. Since then, much of this City has changed. “Lots of the buildings and properties have developed into something else,” said Parkhurst. “One of the constants is the American Legion.”
“So, welcome to our apple orchard – it’s where you sit now,” he continued. “As is customary, the flag out front was lowered to half mast at sunrise this morning, in remembrance of those we lost in wars. At noon, it’ll be raised to full mast, in honor of those still with us.” Parkhurst invited attendees to join him there and then meet him at Fairfax Cemetery where a wreath would be laid on Chilcott’s grave. (See sidebar).
After the singing of the national anthem and the entrance of the joint VFW/American Legion Color Guard, Post 8469 Chaplain Dan Allmacher gave the opening prayer. “Almighty God, in Your hands are the living and the dead,” he said. “We give You thanks for all those who fought the forces of evil and laid down their lives to preserve the freedoms we enjoy. May they rest in peace and may light perpetually shine upon them.”
Next came a moment of silence to remember those who died for their country, those missing in action and those held as prisoners of war. Then McCarl introduced guest speaker (Ret.) Army Lt. Gen. Richard Formica, also a Post 8469 member.
He was a career field-artillery officer. “He brings unique perspectives to this podium, having commanded forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan,” said McCarl. “He knows the feeling, firsthand, of the loss of soldiers in combat.”
Formica, too, began by recognizing Connolly’s passing. “He’d been a regular feature here at these events, and for Veterans Day ceremonies,” said Formica. “And he was a staunch advocate for veterans, those currently serving and federal workers in Northern Virginia.” Formica then called for a moment of silence in Connolly’s honor, adding, “We remember his life, and we mourn with his family, friends and [colleagues].”
Expressing his honor to speak at this Memorial Day ceremony, Formica said he and his wife Diane retired to Fairfax County in 2013, following 36 years in the Army. His career included 14 moves during assignments in Germany and across the U.S.
“We’ve attended nearly every Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremony here in Fairfax, these past 12 years,” said Formica. “We especially appreciate the reading of the names and the ringing of the bell each Memorial Day to remember Fairfax sons and daughters who gave their lives for their country. RJ Hess, my daughter’s high-school classmate, and Captain Laura Walker, the daughter of one of my close Army colleagues, are among the names read here this morning.”
Calling Memorial Day a somber day, Formica said it’s not a happy one but, rather, a serious time to pause, reflect and remember. Over the course of his career, he said, he’s participated in or attended Memorial Day events in Verdun and Normandy, France; Neu Ulm, Wurzburg and Bamberg, Germany; Baghdad; Kabul; and at Arlington National Cemetery.
He and his family did likewise in many local communities where they lived and served across America. Common to them all, he said, was “heart-pounding patriotism – this emotion-filled and solemn remembrance of those who died for our country and an honoring of those they left behind.
“As Commanding General of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, I spoke at one such event at a Huntsville, Ala., cemetery, few years ago. As I was preparing to speak, a member of the Patriot Guards approached me. He wore denim and black leather, hadn’t been to a barber in a few years and hadn’t done PT [physical training] for longer than that. He stood ramrod straight and saluted me.
“Then he held up this little, black box containing a Bronze Star medal and said, ‘Sir, I found this in a pawn shop. Bronze stars don’t belong [there]. Will you hold onto this and keep it safe?’ I returned his salute, thanked him and took the medal. I’ve kept it close ever since.”
Formica said U.S. history includes wars – leading to cemeteries filled with fallen service members. “Since the birth of our nation, tragically, over 1.2 million men and women in uniform have died defending our country,” he said. “Of that number, over 7,000 service members and civilians gave their lives in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
“Each left loved ones behind – a wife, husband, son, daughter, brother, sister, mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, and friends,” he continued. “As we read those names and ring that bell, we’re reminded that freedom is not free. We’re aware that the service members resting in cemeteries across America and around the world, and memorialized in cities and towns like this one, died defending the lives and the values that create the backbone of our nation.”
Sadly, said Formica, he and Diane have attended far too many military funerals and memorial services. And in Iraq and Afghanistan, he went to many more for fallen comrades. “Each one is intensely personal for me,” he said. “They’re not just names on a wall or statue – I remember each of them individually.”
When he commanded the III (U.S.) Corps Artillery in Iraq, he lost 20 soldiers in combat, plus another 44 soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and one civilian in Afghanistan. Formica explained how three of them died in two, separate incidents in Iraq. He said they all reflected the selflessness with which they gave their lives.
• SPC Jose Amancio Perez III: Despite sustaining an ultimately fatal shot to the neck – just above his body armor and below his helmet – while driving his first sergeant through enemy fire, Perez sped up the vehicle, escaped the ambush and saved his sergeant’s life. He was awarded posthumously with a Bronze Star.
• SFC Clinton Wisdom and Sgt. Don Clary: They were driving their armored SUV, providing security escort to a visiting VIP in the vehicle behind them. When another vehicle approached rapidly at an intersection, they positioned their vehicle so they’d absorb the crash and save the VIP’s life. Both received a Bronze Star with V for valor posthumously.
“These men were regular, American citizens serving their country,” said Formica. “When they unexpectedly found themselves in a position to sacrifice it all for their country, comrades and others, they did so. And it’s these men – and so many others like them – whose stories [are] only told in small, local ceremonies like this one. It’s for them that America pauses to remember on Memorial Day.”
So, as everyone was enjoying their holiday weekend, Formica thanked Fairfax’s attendees for taking time to remember those who gave their lives, acknowledge their families’ loss, and pray for those still serving in harm’s way. He then asked God to bless them all, plus the veterans and the country.
Then the names of Fairfax County’s fallen were read and a bell rung for each. And in his closing prayer, Chaplain Allmacher honored all those who made the ultimate sacrifice, adding, “Let us never forget.”
Photos by Bonnie Hobbs/The Connection
Richard Formica
Mac McCarl
Eric Parkhurst
From left, Greg Kincaid reads names while Anthony Amos and Billy Bates wait their turns.
Veterans in line to read names while, seated (from left) Eric Parkhurst, Richard Formica and Dan Allmacher listen to Air Force vet Karen Cosgrove ring the bell after each one.
Debbie Young reading names.
Dan Allmacher saying the closing prayer.
The Unmuted (from left) Beth Kimlick, Kate Weber, Martie Gilliam and Lori Greenlief sing the national anthem.
Veterans and others saluting the American flag.
From left, Jim Price, Al Doehring and Earl Seay raise the flag at noon.