Spokane Pauses To Remember Those Who Died ‘They Died In War So That We Might Live In Peace,’ Says Chaplain During Memorial Day Services

Surrounded by flags, flowers and friends, Spokane paused Monday to remember those who have given their lives for their country.

Nearly 300 people gathered for a Memorial Day ceremony at Fairmount Memorial Park, where speakers talked of the importance of the national holiday honoring U.S. war dead.

“Help us never to forget that they died in war so that we might live in peace,” said Lt. Daniel A. Shepard, a chaplain in the U.S. Naval Reserve.

U.S. Rep. George Nethercutt, R-Wash., stood beside the cemetery’s Iwo Jima Memorial and urged people not to take their freedom for granted.

“We’re very fortunate to enjoy the freedoms we have today, to speak freely, to travel between countries without impediment,” Nethercutt said.

“We have an obligation to remember the reasons that people died for us.”

Gary and Carli Robinson of Spokane brought five of their seven children to the ceremony - a family tradition they started in a different city 24 years ago.

“We want to make sure our children grow up knowing about this special day,” said Gary Robinson, who is retired from the U.S. Air Force.

Because none of their relatives is buried in Spokane, the family looks for a soldier’s grave that is not decorated and puts flowers on it.

“We want our children to know this is a place of honor, not a scary place,” said Carli Robinson.

The ceremony was sponsored by the Spokane Detachment of the Marine Corps League, many of whose members served in World War II.

Shirk Jansen, 75, a league member, spent more than three years in a Japanese prison camp. For him, Memorial Day means mixed emotions. Sadness combines with the immense pride he feels for his comrades and country.

“What a wonderful country this is,” Jansen said. “There’s a lot of stuff wrong with it, but it’s the best we’ve got. It’s the best anywhere.”

Memories flooded back as he stood among the veterans’ graves.

“It’s painful, but it’s a good reminder of what people went through,” Jansen said.