Six Mile Holds Traditional Memorial Day Service to Honor the Fallen
Story and all photographs and audio by Karen Brewer, The Pickens County Chronicle
The town of Six Mile’s annual Traditional Memorial Day Service was held outside Town Hall at 11:40 a.m. on Thursday, May 30, 2024.
Six Mile Mayor James Atkinson greeted everyone. “I want to welcome you here today for a Memorial Day remembrance. Today, we honor the more than one million men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation since the American Revolution. Among them, pictured behind me, was Private Furman L. Smith, a 19-year-old from here in Six Mile. Eighty years ago, severely outnumbered, Private Smith emptied his M1 rifle and killed at least 10 enemy soldiers before he was fatally shot. As proud Americans, we should all remember that our freedom is not free. It is only possible because heroes, some from right here in Six Mile, paid the ultimate price. We must all remember them. May they all rest in peace. Thank you very much for being here today.”
Tom Vonkanel, Col., U.S. Army (retired), who served as Master of Ceremonies for the Memorial Day event, explained why the ceremony was being held on May 30, as May 30 was the date Memorial Day was held for more than 100 years, from 1868 until a federal holiday was established in 1971 for the last Monday in May. “We in Six Mile think it needs to be a separate date on its own,” he said. “That’s the reason we are having this Memorial event on the 30th.”
He then introduced Hanna Robinson, and asked that everyone stand and for veterans to salute and for civilians to hold their hands over their hearts as she sang the national anthem.
Next, the Star Scouts of Six Mile led everyone in The Pledge of Allegiance, and Tom Jurkovitch, of the Fleet Reserve Association, Branch 15, gave the invocation.
Rick Hegenberger, a U.S. Navy veteran, introduced the special speaker for the Memorial Day event: Lt. Col. (retired) Mike Shannon, a veteran of the U.S. Army, U.S. Army National Guard, and the U.S. Air Force, who currently serves as Assistant Vice President of Student Life and as a Chaplain at Southern Wesleyan University in Central.
Click the play button on the audio player below to listen to Chaplain Mike Shannon’s Memorial Day speech.
Members of the Fleet Reserve Association Branch 15 and American Legion Easley Post 52, including Post 52 Commander Walt Carter, presented the wreath.
The Remembrance Bell Ceremony was by Lena Jones, Captain, U.S. Navy (retired), the reader, and Jim Jones, PO1, U.S. Navy (retired), the ringer. “The toll of the bell reminds us of the reverence we owe to our departed brothers and sisters in arms,” said Lena Jones. Jim Jones rang the bell twice. “And to those who continue to guard the honor of our country,” Lena Jones continued, followed by two more rings of the bell by Jim Jones. “Charles Barker, Korea; James Howe, Vietnam. William McWhorter, World War II; Furman Smith, World War II. So, the bell tolls for these four,” she said, and Jim Jones rang the bell two more times. “And the many others in Pickens County who have perished in the name of freedom,” she said, as Jim Jones rang the bell an additional two times.
“Taps” was by Nick Vlahos, U.S. Navy (retired) and Chaplain for American Legion Easley Post 52, as everyone stood and either saluted or placed their hands over their hearts.
Members of the Fleet Reserve Association Branch 15 and the American Legion Post 52 then raised the American flag and South Carolina flag from half-staff to full-staff. “At the raising of the flag, we ask that civilians place their hands over their hearts and military personnel and veterans salute,” said Vonkanel.
Katie Rampey, Event Coordinator for the Town of Six Mile, thanked everyone for coming and thanked the organizers and participants.
She also invited the public to attend a D-Day Commemoration at Six Mile Town Hall on Thursday, June 6, with the event including a meet and greet with World War II veterans from 11:30 a.m. to noon and the ceremony from noon to 12:30 p.m., with refreshments to follow.