Honor through service

Ran on Tuesday, May 29

Honor through service
Family members help drive home central themes of Memorial Day

By Keighla Schmidt
Leader-Telegram staff

Military veteran John Olson of Eau Claire had his stepson on his mind Monday while watching the Memorial Day parade as he solemnly remembered those who fought and died for their country.
Olson’s stepson, Marine Andy Stevens of Tomah, was killed in December 2005 in Iraq. Olson served for 38 years in the military, retiring from the Army Reserve.
“Memorial Day is important to honor those who make it possible for us to do this ... to agree and disagree on public and private issues,” Olson said through tears.
Olson’s wife and Stevens’ mother, Kay Olson, is a Gold Star mother. Kay Olson dropped a wreath into the Chippewa River as a memorial for those who have given their lives serving the country. The dropping of the wreath is a tradition of Eau Claire’s Memorial Day parade.
Vietnam War veteran Dean Emerson of Eau Claire watched Monday’s parade “to honor those that have given us our freedoms, who have fought for us to keep them.”
Veterans, families and community members gathered after the parade at Owen Park for a Memorial Day service.
The Memorial Day address was delivered by a father-son duo, both Navy veterans. Cecil Berlin and Dean Berlin spoke about what Memorial Day means to them.
Cecil Berlin was a first class seaman on a Navy destroyer from 1951 to 1954 in the Korean War. Dean Berlin was a first class Navy officer serving in the Iraq war in 2006.
“We’re here today to remember all men and women who have made the great sacrifice,” Cecil Berlin said.
Enlisting in the Navy when he was 17, Cecil was unaware of the war going on in 1951, but had he known, he said, it would not have made a difference. He had his mind made up to be in the Navy.
Cecil Berlin was aware of the war in Iraq when his son Dean was deployed in January 2006.
Dean left his wife and children and his Eau Claire teaching position to fight in Iraq. In June 2006 the vehicle he was in exploded from an improvised explosive device. Three others were in the vehicle with him; only one other survived.
“I’m here today because I can walk and I can talk,” Dean said. “I’m here to commemorate fallen shipmates who cannot be here.”
Growing up around veterans, Dean said, he always had a deep appreciation for freedom and democracy but this Memorial Day was very different for him.
“Now it has names and faces to help remember it,” he said.
Steve Henry of the Chippewa County town of Lafayette came to Eau Claire to observe and reflect because he is a Korean War veteran and wanted to hear the Berlins.
“It was just great,” Henry said. “It really does put a face to the Memorial Day message.”
Henry, who has a long family history of military service, said the day is special to him. He said he appreciated the people who came to help honor the day.
“It really stresses the value of freedom,” Henry said.
Eau Claire Patriotic Council Chairman Ron Martin, who led the service, said the goal was to remember the fallen comrades in arms and “each one reminds us liberty has a cost, and freedom is not free.”