Honoring sacrifices

Because of the threat of rain, the Memorial Day service was held this year at Couch-Pipa VFW Post 6851, instead of (as is traditional) at the Doughboy statue in the center of town.

The Honor Guard from Couch Pipa had visited nearly two dozen cemeteries that morning, beginning at 6 a.m., with an invocation at each read by Ken Merrill. The Honor Guard also visited the residents at Geer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Geer Village to offer gun salutes and the invocation.

The group did offer the salute at the Doughboy, and then proceeded to the VFW post.

Retired Army Major Eric Carlson was the speaker. He honored fallen soldiers as well as Howard Lotz, a World War II veteran and the last living original signee of Post 6851’s charter, which was dated 1955.

Before the commencement of the Memorial Day service, the Honor Guard offered a gun salute in honor of military veterans at the Couch-Pipa VFW Post 6851. Photo by Hunter O. Lyle

Photo by Hunter O. Lyle

Before the commencement of the Memorial Day service, the Honor Guard offered a gun salute in honor of military veterans at the Couch-Pipa VFW Post 6851. Photo by Hunter O. Lyle