Charles City observes Memorial Day in virtual event drawing on many players

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

The appearances were “virtual,” but the sentiments expressed were actual in an out-of-the-ordinary Charles City Memorial Day observance presented Monday morning under COVID-19 social distancing guidelines.

The ceremony was presented as a video on the Charles City VFW Facebook page, and is still available for viewing there.

Acting as masters of ceremonies from an otherwise almost empty VFW Post 3914 were Charles City Councilman Phillip Knighten and Iowa state Rep. Todd Prichard. Both men are veterans and have served tours of duty overseas, including in Iraq and other areas of the Middle East, Knighten as a Marine and Prichard in the Army.

“It’s times like today where we are reminded about the patriotism, not only of veterans who have served their country during times of war, but also for the patriots who are serving us as essential workers and frontline workers, and everyday citizens who are doing everything they can to stop the spread of the COVID virus during this time,” said Prichard.

The observance included Charles City High School graduating senior Nathan Shultz singing the national anthem a cappella in a video, and the high school vocal jazz group Rhymes with Orange singing “America The Beautiful” in a video that mixed their separate voices into one.

Charles City Mayor Dean Andrews read the official Memorial Day proclamation while standing at the veterans memorial at the Floyd County Courthouse, and American Legion Auxiliary member Mary Mooberry laid a wreath at the memorial “in honor and in memoriam of those service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation,” Prichard said.

The proclamation Andrews read concluded by urging “all citizens of our community to take a few minutes to reflect on the lives of the valiant men and women who have defended our nation and the lives of all of our dear friends and relatives.”

A video was shown of rifle volleys presented by Tech Sgt. Ben Chatfield, Sgt. Luke Chatfield and Prichard, who is a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve, then Charles City High School student Justin Heyer sounded taps.

Knighten concluded the video, saying “Semper Fi” and “God bless.”