By By JESSICA SIEFF / Niles Daily Star
In the end, the weather held out for Niles' annual Memorial Day parade.
Onlookers lined Main Street on Monday morning, folding chairs in tow, many in sweatshirts and jackets to guard against what was a cool breeze.
The parade ceremony began with the lights and sirens of Niles City Police and Berrien County Sheriff's Department cruisers inching their way up the street followed by a long list of participants that included the Niles High School Band, Ring Lardner and Brandywine Senior High School bands, Miss Niles-Brandywine Zarah Mumaw, the royalty of this year's Four Flags Area Apple Festival – led by Grand Marshall, State Representative and Niles resident Sharon Tyler.
Tyler also delivered a short but inclusive speech at Silverbrook Cemetery, where a memorial ceremony was held.
Serving as Master of Ceremonies was Cass County Commissioner John Rodebush, who greeted those attending the service with recognizing the servicemen and women fighting under each military branch as well as those who have sacrificed ultimately for their country.
"(There are) 11 citizens of Michigan (lost) since we gathered here last time," Rodebush said.
For many, Memorial Day represents the sound of gunfire echoing in the skies over Pearl Harbor, Normandy, Hiroshima, Vietnam, Korea, Iraq and throughout the world.
Taking the podium Monday to address the crowd at the start of the service as well as perform the benediction to close the ceremony was the Chaplain Fred Smith who recalled the days that he fought for his country amidst that echoing gunfire.
"We were pinned down in Italy," Smith said, "and the Germans knew where we were."
The infantry was ordered to move out, Smith said, and as the young men took enemy fire, "they killed a young lad up front."
A medic rushed to check on the condition of the fallen soldier, Smith recalled, only to find that it was that medic's own brother.
Such incidents changed certain military practice, Smith said, bringing the issue of family members serving within the same company to the forefront.
Many men were lost during those times, he added.
"But God was good and many of us were able to come home."
Following Smith was State Representative Tyler, whose own serviceman, son Cody, stood just off to her right.
Tyler began her speech noting that so many families throughout the country and the state were facing hard times.
"But," she said. "People from around the world still long to live in our nation…
"It's our freedoms and liberties that draw them here," she added.
Later Niles' own state representative along with Rodebush placed a wreath at the base of a cannon located at the cemetery. The Niles High School band performed patriotic music and two trumpeters sent a combined performance of taps cutting into the air – drawing tears from many of the crowd.
Tyler also asked those gathered at the cemetery to remember those men and women serving within the United States military and reminded all that as America continues to participate in operations in the Middle East, many of American families "have been touched by war… When we think of our freedoms and our rights we must remember them… May peace, hope and happiness be with all of them," she said.