Warrensburg Memorial Day 2024 ceremony remembers local heroes

Threatening skies and distant rumbles of thunder caused organizers of the Warrensburg Memorial Day service to cancel the parade up Elm to the Hudson Street cemetery. Still, the ceremony went on, held inside the firehouse Monday morning. Haskell Brothers VFW Post 4821 officiated over the service with members of the Warrensburg Volunteer Fire Department in dress uniforms forming a line that spanned the depth of the building.

The ceremony was attended by several town youth organizations, town citizens and the Warrensburg Junior/Senior High School Band directed by Denise Foster. The VFW Color Guard and the Warrensburg Band marched from the parking lot outside the firehouse into the building where Logan McKinney opened the service with the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Warren County Administrator John Taflan gave the keynote address. He told the story of the Haskell Brothers, Eldon and Ray, two Warrensburg boys, sons of John and Edna Haskell. Both were killed in World War II. Eldon, only 19 years old, died in Italy, a hero who stormed an enemy stronghold while lobbing hand grenades. His older brother Ray, at age 21, was killed a few weeks later in France. The Warrensburg VFW named their post to honor these boys. They were not the only Warrensburg service members who went to war and never returned. They were all recognized at Monday’s ceremony as Phil Baker of the VFW read the roll call of Warrensburg soldiers who gave their lives serving their country.

Warrensburg High School Freshman Grace Mosher read the WWI-inspired poem “In Flanders Fields” and the Warrensburg Band played the Official songs of each military branch and “God Bless America.” The ceremony closed with a member of the Junior/Senior High Band playing “Taps.”