Troy Lions Club holds annual Memorial Day service

By Josh Jones
Times Tribune Editor

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TROY — The Troy Lions Club hosted its annual Memorial Day Candle Light Service Monday at the Tri-Township Park Field of Honor and Service. 

The Color Guard was conducted by Troop 8038B and 8038G. During the services various patriotic/Memorial Day songs were performed by the Troy Community Band. The opening and closing prayer was conducted by Pastor Kent D. Wilson of CrossView Church.

Chairman of the event and Lions Club Board member Tim Greenfield was this year’s speaker. ​​He is a Vietnam Veteran and served in the United States Army in Vietnam in 1966 and 1967. He was the chairman of the committee that built the Tri-Township Park Field of Honor and Service. Greenfield has also served in various different positions on the Tri-Township Park District board for 19 years and 10 years as park director.

“As veterans and citizens of our great country, we have a solemn duty that is spotlighted this month,” Greenfield said. “Today our nation observes Memorial Day, the time all citizens should pause, reflect upon and remember those men and women who gave their lives in defense of our great nation.”

Greenfield discussed the importance of taking time during Memorial Day to recognize and show reverence for human losses in war and the fact that freedom is not free. 

“Sacrifice is meaningless without remembrance,” Greenfield said. “It is up to those of us who survived war to carry that gauntlet.” 

During the service the Buddy Poppy flower was handed out to guests and Greenfield read the poem “In Flanders Fields”. According to the VFW’s website, the poppy movement was inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields” written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae of the Canadian forces, before the United States entered World War I. Poppies were flowering in the spring of 1915 on the battlefields of Belgium, France and Gallipoliow, growing wild amid the ravaged landscape which was the inspiration for Colonel McCrae’s poem. Selling replicas of the original Flanders’ poppy was originally sold to provide relief for the people of war-devastated France.

“Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for me. Jesus Christ and the American soldier,” Greenfield said. “One died for my soul and the other for my freedom. I thank them both every day.”

Finishing his speech, Greenfield encouraged all leaders in military, local government as well as citizens to pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to set an example for future generations.

“Our nation and its citizens owe a debt of gratitude to the men and women in uniform who sacrificed their lives for the rest of us,” Greenfield said. “Make sure you do your part to remember them as we live free.”