“We are here for them, and we do not forget.” So said Denny Hansen, Sergeant at Arms for Solon American Legion Stinocher Post 460 in his opening remarks for the annual Memorial Day ceremony Monday morning at the All-Veterans Memorial in Legion Park.

The day of honoring and remembering the men and women who died while serving in the armed forces traces its roots back to the Civil War with the first national observance taking place in 1868 as Decoration Day. The day was renamed Memorial Day after World War 1 and became a federal holiday in 1971.

Hansen, and keynote speaker Doug Thompson, reminded the audience how the cost of freedom is not only borne by those who have fallen, but is also paid by the families they leave behind. Thompson pointed to the uncertainty that turned into lifelong anguish for the family of Solon’s Pavel brothers, both lost in flying incidents during World War 2. Mrs. Pavel’s final words, he said were a tormented cry-out to her missing boys.

Hansen issued a call to the community to honor, support, and care for grieving families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

“You must never forget the families of the fallen,” Hansen said.