CHESAPEAKE – They answered when their country called and yesterday, they remembered the ones that have passed on and the many that did not come home.

Tuesday, May 29, 2001

CHESAPEAKE – They answered when their country called and yesterday, they remembered the ones that have passed on and the many that did not come home.

Members of the American Legion Post 640 in Chesapeake started early Monday morning preparing to honor their fallen comrades. The group traveled to five cemeteries throughout the eastern part of the county. They also met on the Chesapeake-Huntington, W.Va. bridge to lay a wreath in the Ohio River as a tribute to those that died in the deep and they concluded their tour of duty at Chesapeake’s Memorial Park.

At the cemeteries, friends and families of soldiers and sailors who have died gathered to decorate the graves and pay their respects to those who gave their life while in duty.

The Legionnaires marched slowly down the rows of graves carrying the American flag, the Legion’s flag and a flag to remember those missing in action and prisoners of war. They paid tribute with a 21-gun salute and "Taps" echoed throughout the cemetery grounds.

Although their years of war have passed, members said their organization faces one more battle – to keep their Memorial Day tribute alive and well as the membership continues to age and as the number of Legionnaires declines.

"We don’t have enough young people interested in the post" said Marty Martin, post adjutant.

Martin spent several hours early Monday morning trying to gather enough people to conduct the ceremony.

"We need new members," he said, "I would really hate to see this tradition die."

Martin explained why it is important for the tradition to continue. He said the service isn’t conducted for those who are remaining but as a tribute to their brothers-in-arms who have fallen while protecting their country and, as President Abraham Lincoln once wrote, to the men who "laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom."