Memorial Day weekend is approaching. It is time to remember all of the great deceased men and women who made Cheboygan County great. From Jacob Sammons, who was the first Cheboygan settler in the 1840’s to the last deceased county leaders, we thank and honor all of them. We greatly honor all of our men who served in the Civil War, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and all other deceased men and women who served our nation in any manner. We are proud of them and honor their sacrifices.

Recently my daughter told me to put my coat on and we were going to Cheboygan. She told me that she had a surprise for me. I had no idea where we were going but she parked in front of the Cheboygan County Veteran’s Memorial Park. I saw Dar Maziasz walking toward me. She took my arm and lovingly led me to my surprise. The Cheboygan VFW group was improving the Veteran’s Memorial Park. Dar and her husband, Chuck, had purchased a brick for my husband, Chester Casari, who served three and a half years aboard the battleship, New Jersey, in World War II. I was deeply touched!

After the surprise and shock I realized that my brother, Robert Wilton, also deserved the same honor, so I obtained the necessary papers and purchased a brick for my brother, Bob, who, when he came home after being in the First Marine Division, wounded and suffering from malaria and fighting for nearly four years, used the G.I. Bill to become a school principal and a long time leader of the VFW group in Onaway.

I would also like to thank the living Cheboygan County veterans who perform services each Memorial Day in Cheboygan County cemeteries. I attend, each year, their services at the cemetery near Alverno. Their tribute to deceased veterans and others, with bugles, a rifle tribute and a memorial message is appreciated by the many people who attend Memorial services at their local cemetery. We are grateful for their great honoring ceremony for our deceased men and women who served in our nation’s wars.

To my readers I wish a pleasant Memorial weekend and happy memories of our lost ones.

I live in Aloha Township. To complete today’s column I would like to honor one of Aloha County’s great women, now deceased, Joyce Barr. Joyce was one of our longest elected Township officials. She served as our clerk for over 30 years. She worked with many supervisors and board members who admired her organization and capabilities. Joyce was soft spoken but a stern guardian of the board business. And she kept her sense of humor through all of these over 30 years. We are proud to have had Joyce, to oversee the well-being and growth of Aloha Township, one of Cheboygan County’s 19 great townships. I was proud to call Joyce my friend.