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Posted May 31, 2002

Tom Grein

A Monumental Afternoon

"This memorial is dedicated in honor of the valiant men and women of the Town of Herndon, Commonwealth of Virginia, who rendered unyielding service to the cause of liberty in declared and undeclared wars to keep America a free and great nation."

The new memorial was shrouded in a cover waiting to be unveiled to a waiting audience. The white tents were filled with dignitaries, residents in civilian clothes, members of American Legion Post 184 with their legion caps, and a few in old military uniforms.

On Monday, Memorial Day, 2002, the Herndon Veterans Memorial was dedicated before an audience of about 300 on the Town Green. The memorial, an obelisk made from the same granite that was used in building the Capitol in Washington, D.C., has a greater meaning than just for the people of Herndon. It represents all those who served. The people in the audience represented many towns and areas around Herndon, including Reston and Sterling.

It was a moving ceremony.

Was it the members of the Military District of Washington? Was it the members of the Virginia National Guard? The men and women in uniform? The rifle salute? Taps? The speeches and poems? The singing of the National Anthem?

Lt. Gen. John M. Riggs, director of the U.S. Army Objective Task Force, standing before the lectern with his military garb and his jaunty hat, spoke with force, with passion, and with compassion.

The general may have summed up the affair better than anyone. He commented that one of the more impressive sights that afternoon was the number of young children in attendance.

I could relate to that, as we had taken our grandchildren to the event. Four-year-old Jackson Mentzel, my youngest daughter Molly's son, stood next to me or sat on my knee silently for the duration of the 45-minute program. I wasn't sure what kept his attention, so unusual for a four-year-old.

I could only imagine it was the setting, with the uniforms, the guns, the flags and the soldiers posting the colors and marching across the Green.

It was only when the master of ceremonies, Del. Thomas D. Rust, announced the end of the program, that Jackson blurted out, "Boy, that sure was a long ceremony," much to the delight of the audience nearby.

But for all the children there that afternoon, for them to see and to hear people praising not only the military and those who served, but all of America, can only open their young minds to the glories and possibilities of this country.

It is an important part of their education, whether or not they fully comprehend the complexities. I was pleased, as was Lt. Gen. Riggs, that children stood hand in hand with their parents or grandparents to experience the day.

Jackson only wanted to see the monument after the "ceremony," as he called it. For him that may have been enough. At least for that afternoon.

And that's Our Town this week.