BEATRICE - Beatrice area residents paid their respects this Memorial Day to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their nation.
The Veterans Section of the Evergreen Home Cemetery hosted its annual Memorial Day Service, led by local veterans organizations and the Gage County Veterans Service Office.


Giving the address was First Sergeant Kirk Jensen….a Nebraska National Guard member since 1993, who has served overseas in Jordan, Kuwait and Iraq….serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.


"Whether its in the mountains of Afghanistan...the deserts of Kuwait, Jordan, Iraq, Syria.....the skies over Europe, the islands of the Pacific....the jungles of Vietnam, or elsewhere....the stories of the fallen, matter....and need to be told. By sharing their stories, we keep their memories alive. We give others glimpses of military service....things to inspire others to create a better world, a stronger nation and a kinder community. It's up to us to use the gift secured by their sacrifice to do as much good as possible....to honor our debt to them...that we can never repay."


Jensen says citizens may use flowers and symbols and their attendance at ceremonies to honor those who have passed on, but he said soldiers often use a different way of paying respects…..leaving a coin at the grave of a fallen service member.


"The significance, some understand...others don't. A penny is, you're just visiting. A nickle, if you went to basic training with them. A dime, if you served in their unit....a quarter, if you were there when they made the ultimate sacrifice, and died."


Under a new initiative… American Flags have been flown for several additional days before the Memorial Day Holiday weekend at the Gage County Courthouse grounds, the Veterans Memorial in south Beatrice, and at Evergreen Home Cemetery. They were to be taken down by five p.m., Tuesday.