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CLOUDY Temp: 60 °F Wind: N at 5 mph Saturday, June 1, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Cyberchef E The People Golf Job Network Headbone Zone Wellness Connection Movie Times Newspaper in Education Oregon CarZone Outdoor Journal Personals Prime Times Real Estate Tempo A & E TV Times W3 Magazine CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Destinations Automotive Communities Employment Entertainment Publications Real Estate Recreation Shopping Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Jobs @ Mail Tribune Email Story to a Friend May 28, 2002 Veterans visit park, recalling soldiers’ courage By GREG STILES Mail Tribune Earl MacPherson cherishes memories seven decades old. As a child growing up in Kennewick, Wash., the 77-year-old MacPherson watched Civil War and World War I veterans parading down the street on May 30. "The Civil War soldiers would put on Grand Army of the Republic uniforms and march," MacPherson recalled. "My dad and uncle would put on their military uniforms and go." More than 50 years after his own Marine Corps duty in World War II, MacPherson was on hand at Veterans Park in Medford to mark Memorial Day 2002 on Monday. Although there was no parade and the turnout for the annual laying of wreaths was limited by an afternoon drizzle, MacPherson still looked forward to honoring America’s fallen warriors. "It hasn’t changed all that much," MacPherson said. "It’s something we should all honor. Unfortunately, when they changed the date from the 30th of May to whatever day was Monday, it made a lot of difference as far as people participating in Memorial Day. A lot of people go off and fish, go off and hunt, go off and travel rather than participate in ceremonies. It helped the tourist industry." And unlike the era when he was growing up, veterans on parade don’t command the attention they once did. Even younger servicemen don’t always see the connection. "A lot of our servicemen didn’t pay too much attention when they were younger, because they were busy with other things," MacPherson said. "It’s only after they get a little older that they start realizing the importance." Maj. Russ Kautz, a Medford native and 1982 West Point graduate who served 13 years in the U.S. Army, addressed the gathering. Since 1994, Kautz has been a financial consultant with Smith Barney and has been a member of the Oregon Army National Guard since 1995. He is rear detachment commander for the 1st Battalion of the 186th Infantry, which was established in Ashland in 1863 and known as the Ashland Mountain Rangers. More than 400 members of the 186th are training for deployment in the Sinai Peninsula on a peacekeeping mission. It’s the 10th overseas deployment of the Oregon National Guard since the Gulf War, including assignments in Germany, Croatia, Bosnia, Kuwait, Kosovo and Saudi Arabia. "They’re serving their country just as those whose names are on the wall in this park," Kautz said. "Peace and prosperity are paid for with a high price. That price is the lives of soldiers. Freedom is never free. Those who gave their lives had the courage to rise to the challenge to defeat our enemies in mortal combat. "I believe our servicemen and women today, who are currently defending our freedoms, have the same courage of their convictions. We servicemen and women of today, and citizens, appreciate the example and sacrifice and honor of those men and women of the past. It is the duty of today’s soldiers to carry on their true traits and values of courage to the next generation." Members of the Marine Corps Sergeants, Air Force Sergeants Association, Disabled American Veterans, Daughters of the American Revolution, Merchant Marine Veterans, Non-commissioned Officers of America, Vietnam Veterans of America and the Army-Navy Union placed wreaths at the park. Memorial Day has long been close to Jack Carlson’s heart. His father and uncle served in France during World War I and his brother, stationed on the USS Arizona, died during the Pearl Harbor air raid. "I go to Hawaii every Pearl Harbor Day," he said. "My father and uncle were both Marines. It’s a day of remembrance." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4463 or e-mail [email protected] . Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy web master feedback A D V E R T I S E R S