Due to the threat of inclement weather, Salem-St. Paul Lutheran church in Kresgeville hosted the 21st annual Polk Township Memorial Day program. Despite the change in venue, dozens of local residents came to remember those who lost their lives in U.S. wars and to honor our local veterans and active duty military.

Alexia Piel of Girl Scout Troop 50986 acted as Master of Arms for the ceremony, welcoming members of the community and introducing speakers.

The procession and presentation of colors was led by Boy Scout drummers Vincent O’Rourke of Troop 109 and Eric Reagle of Troop 98.

Polk resident Brenda Drew provided welcoming remarks and acknowledged the families of two local fallen heroes: Capt. Thomas Carney and Pfc. David Russel (Whitey) Bartholomew, both killed in action in the Vietnam War.

The Polk Township Memorial was built in honor of her brother, Whitey. It was dedicated to memorialize all fallen soldiers and to pay tribute to all veterans.

This year, the Polk Township Veterans Commission collected letters that were written by soldiers to their loved one from several past wars. The letters were read by community members.

Travis Nugent of Boy Scout Troop 102 read letters written during the Revolutionary and Civil War. In the letter to his love, Elizabeth, a Revolutionary soldier writes, “My men have not been paid for a year, yet they remain patient with a noble spirit of patriotism.”

Similar sentiments of patriotism and family love were found throughout the other letters written during the World War II and the Korean War, read by township Supervisor Carl Heckman.

A World War II letter written to a father from his son serving at Pearl Harbor stated, “At night there was lots of heavy fire and the bombs dropped like eggs from the sky, all around us. Lives have been lost, but not in vain.”

Resident Connie Haydt read a letter from her cousin Whitey that was written on toilet paper.

In the letter, Whitey explains that he had sent his envelopes and paper ahead but wanted to communicate with his loved ones. He asks his family not to worry about him, that he is doing fine and is looking forward to seeing them again. He was killed in action just weeks later.

Polk resident Donna Coleman read letters from Operation Desert Storm.

A soldier stationed in Saudi Arabia writes to her sister, “I feel prepared for what I must do, but I am not prepared for the emotional trauma of seeing my fellow soldiers hurt or sick. I have already cried for a 59-year-old Marine who insisted he could not leave his men when he had a heart attack.”

The laying of the wreath was in memory of U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Elmer Heissam who fought in the Korean War. Heissam died earlier this year. His widow, Alverta Heissam, and his niece Patti Oswald laid the wreath at the altar in his honor, accompanied by Nugent.