Memorial Day Parade remembers those who served for their country
Published 9:24 am Tuesday, May 30, 2017
American Legion member Richard Stuart and U.S. Army Captain Randy Cuyler stand over the grave of Cuyler’s son, U.S. Army Specialist Brian Cuyler. Brian died last July from brain cancer stemming from injuries he received while serving overseas. (Leader photo/JOE KUHARIC)
An elderly man and a young girl drive on a vintage tractor during the parade through Buchanan. (Leader photo/JOE KUHARIC)
Niles royalty wave from a float during the Memorial Day parade. (Leader photo/KELSEY HAMMON)
Members of the Buchanan American Legion placed flags and white crosses on the graves of deceased soldiers in Oak Ridge Cemetary for Memorial Day. (Leader photo/JOE KUHARIC)
Apple festival royalty Kara West, left, and Kimberly West wave to the crowds along downtown Niles.(Leader photo/KELSEY HAMMON)
A U.S. flag waves in the wind in Silverbrook Cemetery. (Leader photo/KELSEY HAMMON)
Children with the Afternoon Adventure VBS in Buchanan wave to the crowd during Monday’s parade. (Leader photo/JOE KUHARIC)
Not a day goes by that Phil Prenkert, of Niles, does not remember the friends he lost while serving in Vietnam.
Prenkert was 19 when he was enlisted in the Vietnam War to serve as an infantryman. Prenkert’s friends Stephan Warrens, of Rochester, New York, and Fred Smith, of Chicago, did not come home with him.
Their names were added to the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington D.C.
“I honor them every day,” Prenkert said.
On Monday, as he waited for the Memorial Day parade to start, Prenkert emphasized the importance of remembering those that served.
“So that people do not forget why they have the freedoms they have,” Prenkert said.
Prenkert joined hundreds in lining the streets of downtown Niles to remember his friends and others who served during the Niles Memorial Day parade, sponsored by the American Legion Post 26.
“It honors the veterans by remembering them and those that died for the service of our country,” Prenkert said. “They deserve the honor more than I do.”
For the event, veterans walked or drove through the streets as spectators clapped and cheered. Niles and Brandywine highs school students in the marching band performed and a number of floats were included in the mix.
Watching from a shady spot on the grass, World War II veteran Frank Geiger, 92, of Niles, watched the parade with his daughter, Deb Jorgensen, of Niles.
Geiger served in the air corps and as an infantryman. He worked to defend the Panama Canal Zone, watching for enemy activity.
Following his time in the service, Geiger became part of the parades and would ride through the streets on a horse and carriage, with his grandkids waving from the window.
Just down the block and dressed in an American flag jacket, fellow veteran Madalyn Crocker, of Niles, waited for the parade to start with her family nearby.
Following high school, Crocker served in the Navy as a hospital corpsmen from 1958 to 1961 in California.
Crocker said after high school she wanted to do something more with her life.
“I said, ‘I did not graduate from high school to be a cashier,” Crocker said.
Crockers was one of few women to serve in the Navy at that time, and for a number of years she said she would see men receive recognition for their time served, but not women.
“I remember years sitting in church and different groups and they would say, ‘all you men who are veterans stand up,’” Crocker said. “I would not stand up. Now they say men and women.”
The recognition feels good, but Crocker said on Memorial Day she was hoping to honor those members of her family who had also served, including an aunt who served in the Navy, two of her brothers and her grandson.
Crocker has been coming to the parade with her family for years.
“It is a tradition for the whole family,” Crocker said.
In addition to the parade, Crocker said on Memorial Day she also visits the graves of family and friends in the five different Michiana graveyards.
Following the parade, a tribute ceremony took place for veterans in the Silverbrook cemetery. A sea of American flags decorated the cemetery, and the Niles High School band played a special piece, honoring the veterans.
The American Legion 26 post also hosted a remembrance ceremony for veterans lost at sea. The ceremony took place on Sunday afternoon at Riverfront Park. A wreath was lowered into the St. Joseph River to remember veterans.
