Hallowed ground

OTHELLO — A hushed crowd listened, men with hats off, as Veterans of Foreign Wars Sgt. Robert F. Wiley Post Commander Joel Cantu read out the solemn words of the traditional VFW Memorial Day Ritual. 

“As long as two comrades survive – so long will the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States render tribute to our heroic dead,” Cantu read. “On this day forever consecrated to our heroic dead, we are assembled once again to express sincere reverence. These graves represent the resting places of many departed comrades who served in all wars. Wherever the body of a comrade lies, there the ground is hallowed.” 

Cantu and other members of the VFW gathered at Bess Hampton Memorial Gardens to pay tribute to those who gave their lives for their country. Cantu’s words were followed by the national anthem, sung by the quartet of Joanna Miller, Kimmy Sanders, Steve Agenbroad and Robbie Flores. Agenbroad took the microphone to lead the assembly in a prayer.

“We thank you for this Memorial Day, because this is not just another day of vacation,” Agenbroad prayed. “It is a day of remembrance. We want to remember all those who sacrificed, who gave their lives, who shed their blood, because they were called to do so.” 

One by one, post members laid objects in tribute to the honored dead on the stone that marks the veterans’ section of the cemetery: a wreath to symbolize remembrance, a white flower, a red flower and finally a flag. 

“On behalf of our glorious republic for whose integrity our comrades enlisted and served, I place this emblem of the nation,” Cantu said as he laid the flag. “The flag was theirs to defend. Its glorious colors shall wave over them in death as in live, for everyone to behold.” 

More songs followed: Miller sang “America the Beautiful,” and Sanders sang “Some Gave All.”  

Agenbroad served as the guest speaker for the occasion. He told the story of his father, Owen Agenbroad, a U.S. Marine during World War II who served in the Battle of Iwo Jima. Steve Agenbroad was able to take his father back to Iwo Jima almost 40 years after the battle, he said. Owen Agenbroad passed away in 2016, according to his obituary. 

“I didn't find out a whole lot about my (dad’s wartime service) in the 60-some years that I was with him, but he did share when we got over to Iwo Jima, and I found out more in the first two and a half hours that I was there than I had all the previous years,” Agenbroad said. 

While Owen Agenbroad was on Iwo Jima in 1945, he found a straight razor that had belonged to a dead Japanese soldier, Steve Agenbroad said. He kept it for many years and eventually found someone to decipher some Japanese writing on the blade, which identified the owner. The Japanese soldier’s son was still alive, and Owen Agenbroad arranged to meet him on Iwo Jima to return the razor to him. 

“He was very thankful for that, and he spoke to my dad in Japanese, and my dad spoke back to him in Japanese, and the guy started crying,” Agenbroad said. “To me, that was awesome because Japanese men don't cry in public and for him to shed a tear showed me that there is a God in heaven. I thought, ‘Dad, this is crazy. You don't even know this man, but he's more like a comrade than he ever was an enemy.’ And for that I say, thank you. I thank you for what my dad gave. I thank you for what every soldier gave.” 

    Ramon Cantu raises the colors at the VFW Memorial Day ceremony in Othello Monday.
  

    Steve Agenbroad leads the assembled in prayer at the VFW’s Memorial Day ceremony Monday in Othello.
  

    From left: Robbie Flores, Kimmy Sanders, Joanna Miller and Steve Agenbroad sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Bess Hampton Memorial Gardens Monday.