A sad reminder of 'the ultimate sacrifice' on Memorial Day
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3919 honored Sergeant John Paul Mills who died in the Vietnam War at age 21
About a 150 people —considerably more than last year— gathered under gray skies at the Sebastopol Memorial Lawn for the Memorial Day ceremony organized by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 3919. R. Joshua McHenry, VFW Post 3919 Junior Vice Commander, said the purpose of the ceremony was “to honor the courage, sacrifice and loss” of those who had served in the military and their families.
Post 3919 member George Curtis shared a letter that he wrote to his family during the Vietnam War.
McHenry presented a commemorative certificate to former Master Sergeant Michael E. Mills, an Iraq war veteran, in memory of his brother, Sergeant John Paul Mills. Mills was an Analy graduate in the class of 1965. For injuries received in Vietnam, Mill received the Bronze Star Medal and three Purple Hearts. In 1968, he died at age 21 after stepping on a land mine. The Mills family received a letter of condolence from then-Governor Ronald Reagan, which McHenry read. The family brought a display case with his medals and awards.
“The Mills family embodies the pride and sacrifice that is carried by loved ones,” said McHenry who asked for a moment of silence in honor of Mills.
The expected flyover was cancelled due to the cloudy skies but a drone buzzed overhead at the end of the ceremony. The Sebastopol Community Band, led by Nick Xenelis, performed the Star-Spangled Banner and America the Beautiful.
Steve Brown and other veterans came out in uniform.
The audience was invited to place small American flags on the graves of veterans buried at Sebastopol Memorial Lawn.
The ceremony was followed by a lunch at the Sebastopol Veterans Memorial Building on High Street.
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