By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Hearing radio commentators discuss a horse initially chosen as a contender in this year’s Kentucky Derby made Jeremiah Lange realize much of military history has been lost.

“They were talking about a horse named Omaha Beach,” Lange said. “They said there is no beach in Omaha, and I felt sorry for our country. We have forgotten.”

Speaking at Memorial Day services Monday at Marion Cemetery, Lange said it was always humbling to speak about those who served the country.

“In 10 days we will remember the anniversary of D-Day, a day that changed the course of World War II,” Lange said.

Lange said the sacrifices of those who served in the military sometimes were not recognized. His grandfather was assigned to a unit that dropped atomic bombs on Japan at the end of the war.

“They had the responsibility to drop the atomic weapons,” Lange said. “They did not have the speed to evade the effects of that.”

Lange spoke to a crowd of 100.

Among those gathered for the morning service was the Helmer family. Veteran David Helmer wore his dress uniform jacket as he stood at attention during the service.

His cousin, Barbara Helmer Bessel, who now lives in Assaria, said the family had come to the same spot in the cemetery, next to the graves of family members, for 72 years.

The service was held in front of the cemetery’s Civil War veterans’ monument. No list of military members who are buried at the cemetery was read this year. Richard Soyez, American Legion commander, said the Legion no longer had an updated list.

Veterans of Foreign Wars honor guard members wearing silver-colored helmets fired three volleys from seven rifles as the ceremony concluded.