Bells Sounded for the Fallen
Dec 09, 2022 12:00AM ● By By Seti Long
County Supervisors, Gridley VFW Members, and influential persons gathered after the Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony. Pictured from left to right: Butte County Supervisor Tod Kimmelshue, Gridley VFW Commander Ed Kawasaki, VFW's Mike Bartolomucci, VFW's David Yadon, Teri DuBose representing Congressman Doug LaMalfa's office, Gridley Area Chamber of Commerce President Lynne Spencer, and VFW's Sergio Gonzalez. Photo provided by Tod Kimmelshue
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Celebrated for those Lost
GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - The solemn ringing of a bell and a moment of silence began an intimate gathering of veterans, area officials, community members and the family of Pearl Harbor survivors as they honored the fallen during the attack, December 7th, 1941.
In respect for those who were lost, the Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony was held at the Veterans Court of Honor at the Gridley-Biggs Cemetery, 81 years after the deadly attack on the Naval Base at Honolulu, Hawaii.
Presided over by members of the Gridley VFW Post 5731, the program was brief, yet moving. Included in it was the Pearl Harbor Prayer. An excerpt reads: “Heavenly Father, we are gathered here to commemorate those among your servants who gave their lives at Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941. Because of their dedication to duty, we still enjoy the freedoms we inherited from our forefathers. Because they served well, we are proud to call them our own.”
The program continued, recognizing any Pearl Harbor veterans or family of present in the audience. The following local veterans killed in action on that day included Warren H. McCutcheon, who was one of the first to fall at Pearl Harbor, Clair R. Brier, James B. Ginn, Howard D. Crow, and Carro F. Lutz. Those local men who fought and survived the attack were: Vere Gardner, Homer Rod Lane, Clarence Joe Adams, Art Wells, Fred Lawrence, Gordon R. Ditty, Leon Smith, Joseph Langdell, R.E. O’Hara Jr., and D.R. Orr.
The symbolism behind the Two Bell Ceremony was shared. At the event, a small round table with a white tablecloth-held vase with a single red rose signifying “the blood of the fallen shipmates,” a “crystal glass of water to quench their (fallen) thirst for freedom. Salt to remind us of the pain they felt lest we forget them. The china is bone white as the purity of their hearts and sacrifices. This, on a white linen tablecloth that could be used as a clean bandage for their wounds.” The reading of the Two Bell Ceremony, done by Lynne Spencer, continued saying, “The place we set for them this day is a special place. As is the place we hold for them in our hearts, our minds, and our Navy.”
Guests were asked to come forward and take one of many beautiful wreaths to lay down in remembrance of the patriots that lost their lives that day, followed by a rifle tribute and the playing of Taps. The ceremony concluded with a prayer, those in attendance gathering quietly after to express their gratitude to veterans in attendance and those that fought and died for our country.
