Chester VFW Post 3553 and American Legion Post 487 host wonderful event to “Remember and Honor” those who died to keep America Safe and Free
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – Chester’s Memorial Day Service took place Monday May 26. This year’s event was hosted at the VFW Post 3553 in Chester. The weather was perfect with partly sunny skies and temperatures in the low 70’s.
Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day. It was started in 1868 by General John A. Logan as a day of remembrance for those who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces in the Civil War. By 1890 every Northern State had adopted it as a National Holiday. From 1868 until 1970 Decoration Day was celebrated on May 30th of each year.
World War I and World II expanded it into being a generalized Day of Remembrance. All states recognized it as a National Holiday. In 1971 Congress standardized the holiday and changed the name to “Memorial Day. At this time Memorial Day was changed to occur to fall on the last day in May each year.
Guests began arriving at the 2025 Memorial Day Service 10 a.m. to get a good seat, and arrivals continued right up until the start of the program at 11 a.m. This year the VFW added three rows of extra tables and chairs. It was a good thing, too, because the crowd was very large and enthusiastic this year!
The theme of this years’ service was, “Memorial Day Service, Dedicated to the Fallen.” At precisely 11:00 a.m. Bryan Childs, of the VFW Post 3553 in Chester gave an opening welcome. He thanked the Boy Scouts for placing the flags on the street and in the cemetery, and noted that it takes approximately 50 man hours to get this project completed. He also stated that we had gathered “not to mourn, but to remember”, and that we need to continue teaching each generation of the sacrifices made to allow us to live freely.
As always, the Chester High School Concert Band, under the direction of Mr. Steve Colonel, provided the music for the Memorial Day Service. Colonel and his band have been faithful in being most dependable in coming through with a wide variety of music for the event for decades. Following Mr. Childs’ Welcome, the CHS Band performed the National Anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner”.
Also back this year to provide an Invocation and Benediction was the Rev. Dr. Mike Fogerson from the First Baptist Church in Chester. Fogerson always adds a bit if patriotic flare to his Invocations and in 2025, he did not disappoint!
Commanders Bryan Childs of the VFW and Randy Werner of the American Legion then placed a wreath at the front of the stage in memory of the fallen veterans that so bravely served our Armed Forces.
To the right of the wreath was the POW/MIA Table always positioned at Memorial Day events to keep in mind those soldiers that were prisoners of war (POW) or those who never returned and were listed as missing in action (MIA).
Following the Wreath Placement, the CHS Band performed, “Ashoken Farewell” as a hymn to the fallen veterans who were being remembered at the service. American Legion Commander, Randy Werner, provided encouraging remarks to round out the early portion of the event.
Mayor Joe Eggemeyer was on hand to welcome everyone to the event and provide comments on behalf of the City of Chester. Eggemeyer thanked the CHS Band, Chester Boy Scouts, and the VFW and American Legion for all of the hard work that is put into making the annual Memorial Day Services such a huge success.
He also asked everyone, as they visit a cemetery, to pay attention to the hyphen between the birthdate and the death date on the headstones. Although the smallest mark on the headstone, that hyphen represents the person’s story and is a good time to reflect on that legacy.
After the conclusion of Mayor Eggemeyer’s address, the Chester High School Band performed the “Armed Forces Medley” which is a medley of all of the theme songs of each branch of the United States Armed Forces.
The medley includes the theme songs of the United States Coast Guard, the United States Marines, the United States Air Force, the United States Army, and the United States Navy. Very soon the theme of the United States Space Force will be added to the repertoire.
As the theme of each branch of service was played, those veterans in attendance who served under the respective branch of service stood to be recognized an honored. This portion of all military and patriotic services is always a special spot on the program.
Master of Ceremonies Bryan Childs then introduced the Guest Speaker for the day. The Guest Speaker was Pastor Mark Sedwick, of the Wine Hill & West Point Lutheran Churches. Sedwick is a Retired Lt. Colonel of the United States Army.
He detailed the responsibilities of a military chaplain, mainly to Honor the Fallen, Comfort the Wounded, and Nurture the Living. He went on to tell the story of “The Four Chaplains”, who happened to be four U.S. Army chaplains who perished on the USAT Dorchester during World War II.
They are remembered for their selfless act of giving comfort and encouragement to the men on board after the ship was torpedoed and sank. They stayed on board until all were on life boats, and gave their own life jackets to four soldiers without. They were of four different faiths, and were last seen holding hands and praying together as the ship sank. Pastor Sedwick said this is an example of “the good shepherd laying down his life for his sheep” and he tried to model his time as a chaplain after these four men.
After the Guest Speaker finished it was time for the “Annual Roll Call of Departed Veterans”. At this time Commanders Childs and Werner read the list of local veterans who died in the past year since the last Memorial Day Service (May 2024 to April 2025. Those Departed Veterans included:
Thomas McCary 5-22-24
Lloyd Hartenberger 7-2-24
George Allen 7-9-24
Randal Williamson 7-9-25
Jimmy Proffer, Sr. 8-2-24
Roger Lauterjung 9-17-24
Steve Stallheber 11-13-24
Steve Bauer 11-15-24
Merideth Cleiman 11-24-24
Allen Goodwin 11-27-24
Harry McAdams 12-5-24
Jackie Lindsey 12-11-24
Michael Magers 1-20-25
Carroll Rinehart 1-28-25
Roy Seymour 1-29-25
Kenneth Stewart 2-18-25
Glen Misselhorn 2-24-25
Paul Estel 2-27-25
Norman McMillan 4-16-25
Richard Trokey 4-20-25
William Pierce 5-9-25
John Russel 5-9-25
Immediately following the reading of the Departed Veterans, a combined VFW and American Legion Firing Squad presented a “21-Gun Salute to Our Departed Veterans”. Chester High School Band Trumpeter, Kendall Nanney then played “TAPS” to conclude the Salute to Departed Veterans Ceremony.
The Firing Squad included Officer of the Day, Kenny Ragland, Honorable Officer of the Day, Lee Hollaway, Neal McDonough, Mike Hoelscher, Ed Stallman, Bud Stallman, Terry Hirte, Rick Huey, and Stanley Eggemeyer.
To close the 2025 Memorial Day Service the Rev. Dr. Mike Fogerson of the First Baptist Church in Chester provided a Benediction. Steve Colonel and the Chester High School Concert Band performed, “America the Beautiful”.
As always, the VFW provided a delicious FREE meal to everyone in attendance. The menu consisted of Jumbo Hot Dogs, Sloppy Joes, Potato Salad, Potato Chips, Slaw, and ice cold soft drinks.
The 2025 Memorial Day Service was deemed a huge success by the large crowd in attendance.
Pictured are three of the VFW cooks that arrived early Monday morning May 26 at the VFW to prepare a delicious meal for the 2025 Memorial Day Service. The group, prepared Jumbo Hoit Dogs, Sloppy Joes, Potato Salad, Potato Chips, Slaw and a variety of soft drinks to serve the FREE meal to the large crowd on hand. (Left to right) are Darla Ebers, Bobby Holley, and Tom Holley. Jim Beers Photo
Chester High School Trumpet player Kendall Nanney played “TAPS” during the 2025 Memorial Day Service at the Chester VFW. Nanney will be a junior at CHS next school year and has performed this service twice this year for the VFW and America Legion Patriotic events. She played both at the 2024 Veretan’s Day Service and Monday May 26 at the 2025 Memorial Day Service, Jim Beers Photo
Bryan Childs, Commander of the Chester VFW Post 3553 served as Master of Ceremonies at the 2025 Chester Memorial Day Service. Jim Beers Photo
From left to right are members of the combined VFW and American Legion Firing Squad that served at the 2025 Chester Memorial Day Service Monday May 26. Pictured are Neal McDonough, Mike Hoelscher, Ed Stallman, Bud Stallman, Terry Hirte, Rick Huey, and Stanley Eggemeyer. The squad was under the direction of Officer of the Day Kenny Ragland and Assistant Officer of the Day Lee Hollaway. Jim Beers Photo
Commander Randy Werner (left) of the Chester American Legion Post 487 and Commander Bryan Childs (right) of the Chester VFW Post 3553 place the Wreath at the center of the podium at the 2025 Memorial Day Service in Chester. The Wreath was there to remind everyone of the great sacrifices brave soldiers have made over the decades to help keep America safe and free. Jim Beers Photo
From left to right are members of the combined VFW and American Legion Firing Squad that served at the 2025 Chester Memorial Day Service Monday May 26. Pictured are Neal McDonough, Mike Hoelscher, Ed Stallman, Bud Stallman, Terry Hirte, Rick Huey, and Stanley Eggemeyer. The squad was under the direction of Officer of the Day Kenny Ragland and Assistant Officer of the Day Lee Hollaway. Jim Beers Photo
Guest Speaker at the 2025 Chester Memorial Day Service was Pastor Mark Sedwick of the Wine Hill and West Point Churches. Sedwick is a Retired Lt. Colonel of the United States Army and gave a very touching message that touched the hearts of everyone in attendance. Jim Beers Photo
The Rev. Dr. Mike Fogerson of the First Baptist Church in Chester gave the Invocation and Benediction at the 2025 Chester Memorial Day Service Fogerson is a regular speaker at frequent patriotic services in Chester. Jim Beers Photo
Dignitaries on the stage at the 2025 Chester Memorial Day Service at the Chester VFW face the flag and stand at attention to salute the American Flag during the playing of the National Anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner”. Left to right are Randy Werner, Commander at the Chester American Legion Post 487, City of Chester Joe Eggemeyer, Bryan Childs, Commander at the Chester VFW Post 3553, Rev. Dr. Mike Fogerson of the First Baptist Church in Chester, and Mark Sedwick, Guest Speaker and Pastor at the Wine Hill and West Point Lutheran Churches. Jim Beers Photo
Commander Randy Werner, American Legion Post 487 and Bryan Childs of VFW Post 3553 read the Roll Call of Departed Veterans that have died in the past year since the last Memorial Day Service (May 2024-April 2025). There were a total of 22 Departed Veterans on this years’ Roll Call. Jim Beers Photo
Randy Werner Commander of the American Legion Post 487 in Chester provides remarks at the 2025 Chester Memorial Day Service at the CHESTER VFW. Jim Beers Photo
Mary Pierce of the Chester VFW Post 3553 served as the greeter at the 2025 Memorial Day Service hosted at the Chester VFW Post 487. Jim Beers Photo
Pictured are Lee Hollaway and Rick Huey Saluting as their theme song of the United States Marines was being played at the 2025 Chester Memorial Day Service Monday May 26. Steve Colonel and the Chester High School Concert Band were performing the “Armed Forces Medley” in which the theme songs of all branches of the United States Military (except the Space Force) were played. At the time of each theme song being performed, members of that particular branch of service stood and saluted. Jim Beers Photo
Pictured is the POW/MIA Table that is featured at most Patriotic Ceremonies and Services to remind everyone of the sacrifices that many brave soldiers made in services to our country. Many soldiers are still listed as Prisoners of War (POW) or Missing in Action (MIA). Jim Beers Photo