Memorial Day 2022: Sacrifice Remembered

A crowd overflowing with gratitude gathered Monday at Koenig-Belvill Funeral Home in La Grange for the annual Memorial Day Ceremony to honor the memory of local veterans who have passed on.

“Today we celebrate 17 years of bringing this program to La Grange,” said John Bevill, whose family owns and operates the funeral home. “I can’t imagine where we would be without our veterans.”

And clearly lots of local folks felt the same way, as one of the biggest crowds in the history of the event showed up.

Amber Belvill-Carroll gave the welcome, lauding the “courage, determination, selflessness and dedication to duty” of local veterans.

Vicar Gary Johnson gave the invocation before Debbie Matula sang “America The Beautiful.”

John Belvill gave the address, asking the crowd what could be done to instill patriotism in young people today and also announcing a plan to try to work with the city to get a special section in the city cemetery reserved for veterans and their spouses.

“We need to carry on their legacies,” he said.

Jose Estrada, a sophomore at La Grange High School played “Trumpeter’s Lullaby.”

Then Joan Miertschin announced the name of every local veteran who had died in the past year whose services had been handled by Koenig-Belvill. As each name was read, Susie Kalmus rang a memorial bell in their honor.

The 4th Degree Knights of Columbus then stood on guard as the Marine Corps League retired the American flag flying over the funeral home before VFW Post #5254 raised a new American flag.

Representatives from American Legion Posts 102, 338 and 602 placed a memorial wreath at the foot of the flag.

Then John D. Marburger led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance. There was a moment of silence and then Don Allphin played Taps.

After a closing prayer, the crowd enjoyed lunch and dessert from Peters BBQ and Blue Bell.