T-R PHOTO BY MIKE DONAHEY — Members of the local American Legion/Veterans of Foreign Wars Joint Honor Guard prepare to fire blank rounds during Monday’s Memorial Day event at the Marshall County Courthouse Square.

Despite an intermittent drizzle, dozens of central Iowans of all ages turned out for a Monday morning Memorial Day service on the Marshall County Courthouse square.

“All Gave Some, Some Gave All” was the theme of the event organized by local veterans and auxiliary groups.

Framed by the stately columns of the courthouse, Lt. Col. Lon Cakerice (Ret.), a United States Air Force veteran and Grundy County native, gave a passionate and emotional keynote speech.

“Service above self is best realized when one puts on the black and gold colors of the U.S. Army, the scarlet and gold of the U.S. Marines, the blue and gold of the U.S. Navy and the dark blue, scarlet and white of the U.S. Coast Guard,” he said.

And Cakerice cited his brother’s death as a prime example of service above self.

Tragically, his brother and three crewmates were killed flying military aircraft during a training mission.

“I think about my brother and his crewmates every day,” he said. “By any standard, they made the ultimate sacrifice. Many of us here today know this to be true, as we all make varying degrees of sacrifice while serving our time. We may be called upon to die for country and the principles it was founded on. All Gave Some. Some Gave All.”

Cakerice said his father and other family members served in the U.S. Army in World War II, including the pivotal Battle of the Bulge, which was a failed, and last major offensive by Nazi Germany on the Western Front.

Cakrerice, a 1971 graduate of Coe College in Cedar Rapids, flew a variety of military aircrafts throughout his career including the mammoth B-52 bomber while deployed overseas and stateside.

Additionally, he taught at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. and Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps classes at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, as a professor of aerospace science. After retiring from active duty in 1997, he taught history at high schools in Iowa, Tennessee and Texas.

Steve Storjohann of Marshalltown, a U.S. Navy veteran and active in local veterans’ organizations, served as emcee.

“I am pleased with this morning’s turnout honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice,” he said before his opening remarks. “Today, we also honor family members of those who perished in service to their country… They too sacrificed with the loss of loved ones.”

To open the ceremony, members of Boy Scout Troop No. 308 raised the American, state of Iowa and the POW-MIA flags in a solemn ceremony as attendees either saluted or placed hands over hearts.

The scouts then led attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance.

“I had goosebumps when the joint American Legion/Veterans of Foreign Wars honor guard gave their salute,” said Rep. Sue Cahill (D-Marshalltown), who serves District 52 in the Iowa House. “It is such a privilege to commemorate our veterans and their service to us. The (event) organizing committee and military service organizations did a great job in honoring the sacrifices of our deceased veterans. Despite a few sprinkles, the flags were raised, the band played, the wreaths were displayed, and military banners adorned the courthouse square and adjoining streets. Thank you to those who served, who have gallantly served our country and are currently on active duty.”