Wintersville remembers on Memorial Day
IN HONOR — Wintersville Mayor Bob Gale and laid wreaths in honor of fallen veterans at Fort Steuben Burial Estates at the close of a short Memorial Day service there Monday. -- Warren Scott
REMEMBERED — At a time when many Americans are concerned about COVID-19, Hank Segle, past commander of Wintersville Post 557, and Holly Lewis, adjutant for the post, reflected on the many veterans who died from disease while serving their country at a Memorial Day service held Monday at Fort Steuben Burial Estates. -- Warren Scott
IN HONOR — Wintersville Mayor Bob Gale and laid wreaths in honor of fallen veterans at Fort Steuben Burial Estates at the close of a short Memorial Day service there Monday. -- Warren Scott
REMEMBERED — At a time when many Americans are concerned about COVID-19, Hank Segle, past commander of Wintersville Post 557, and Holly Lewis, adjutant for the post, reflected on the many veterans who died from disease while serving their country at a Memorial Day service held Monday at Fort Steuben Burial Estates. -- Warren Scott
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WINTERSVILLE -- At a time when many people are concerned about COVID-19, leaders of Wintersville American Legion Stevens-Christian Post 557 noted disease also was a leading killer of American men and women who lost their lives while serving their country.
Representatives of the post and Fort Steuben Burial Estates and Mayor Bob Gale gathered for a short Memorial Day service at the cemetery that was livestreamed on the cemetery's Facebook page to encourage social distancing.
Holly Lewis, a Navy veteran and adjutant for the post, noted not all veterans were killed by enemy fire.
"Some have died from diseases that have too often festered around war zones. Oftentimes, deaths from disease and accidents outnumbered casualties caused by enemy weapons," she said.
Lewis noted 60 soldiers in the all-black 24th Infantry Regiment who had volunteered to serve as nurses during the Spanish-American War died from yellow fever or malaria.
She added nearly 16,000 U.S. soldiers died from the flu while serving in France while another 30,000 died stateside in camps during World War I.
Hank Segal, past Post 557 commander, noted about 290,000 soldiers on both sides of the Civil War died from dysentery and other diseases.
Lewis said also among the many veterans who didn't die in combat are those who were working to help their fellow service members as doctors and nurses.
Among them was Navy Reserve Pharmacist Mate 3rd Class Jack Williams, who was treating two Marines shot at Iwo Jima even as he himself received bullet wounds, Lewis noted, adding he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
She said others include Army Lt. Sharon Lane, a nurse who was killed when a Soviet rocket struck the hospital where she had been treating wounded soldiers during the Vietnam War.
Lewis added service members are among the many who have been killed by COVID-19.
She said such veterans have some things in common with the many health care workers, first responders and others who report to work while faced with the risk of contracting the coronavirus.
"Every crisis has new heroes. During the 9-11 attacks, they were the first responders running into burning and crumbling buildings as others ran out," Lewis said while standing not far from a steel girder taken from the wreckage of the World Trade Centers and a monument at the site honoring those who were killed in New York City, Washington and Shanksville, Pa.
"Now during the coronavirus pandemic, the most visible heroes are the healthcare professionals who are saving others and risking their own lives while doing so," Lewis said.
Lewis said like fallen veterans, such individuals and the first responders who often encounter the ill first come from various races, backgrounds and classes.
"In short, they look like any one of us,' she said.
'This Memorial Day, as we continue to honor those who fell for us in battle, let's also pause to remember those who have also sacrificed their lives while serving others," Lewis said.
Before joining Lewis in placing wreaths in honor of fallen veterans, Gale said everyone can support those who defended our country and now are among the most at risk of dying from the virus by exercising caution.
"One thing I believe is most important is that we do our part to protect all the veterans that have already given so much to this country, that we ensure we all do our part to protect them," he said.
"Today is one of the most important days of the year, and I am glad this service was able to be conducted in a safe and responsible manner. We can do both, we can live and protect everyone as long as we are all acting responsibly and thinking about others before ourselves," said Gale.
The mayor said just as America's veterans went to battle for our freedoms, "this is our battle, to protect them."