Every Memorial Day, Bert Dibley takes the time to honor his father and other relatives who have served their country in the past. Last Monday, Dibley, himself a World War II veteran, carried on that tradition by joining a crowd of about 75 who gathered at the Kimball Elementary School for a Memorial Day commemoration. Activities for the Memorial Day service included several speeches and poetry recitations remembering America’s service men and women. Emphasis was particularly given to the veterans of World War II in connection with the recent inauguration of the World War II memorial in Washington, D.C. Filling out the program were patriotic songs sung by the audience. At the close of the program, the flags were retired and three rounds were fired by the color guard. A pot-luck lunch at the Kimball Legion Club followed the program. Girl Scouts decorated streets in town with small flags. “Today’s memorial was good, and everything was impressive,” said Dibley, who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. The one thing that really impressed Dibley was the flag folding ceremony by the Legion Auxiliary and Junior Auxiliary. “I think it was excellently done,” Dibley said. His wife Ruth added that it was the first time she had seen a flag folding demonstration, and she felt that it is an important thing for all Americans to know how to do. Dibley himself made it to the new World War II Memorial at the nation’s capital earlier in May this year. He went along on a bus trip with a group of 23 veterans from Meeker County. He remembers being in total awe upon seeing the newly opened memorial. “It was awesome. It’s just what we’ve been waiting for,” Dibley said. “I remembered all the friends I had in the Navy on the ship I was on (in World War II). Only a fourth of us are still alive today.” Overall, Dibley felt that Monday’s Memorial Day service was well attended. One of the reasons for this, he said, is because America’s troops are currently on active duty around the world. “Especially at times like this when we have troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and Bosnia, people should think about them and pray for them,” Dibley said. But he did add that the important thing about Memorial Day is that it shouldn’t just be observed when America’s soldiers are off at war. Instead, he said people should always remember that Memorial Day is about honoring those who have served America and aren’t with us anymore.
