Veterans' memorial dedicated in Helper cemetery

Intermountain Catholic

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Veterans place roses on the Helper Veterans' Monument at the end of the dedication ceremony. SEE MORE PHOTOS ON THE INTERMOUNTAIN CATHOLIC FACEBOOK PAGE.IC photo/Marie Mischel

HELPER — Flags and military uniforms were in abundance at Helper’s Mt. View Cemetery on May 27, which would be unremarkable during most Memorial Day commemorations. This year, however, those gathered in the graveyard had a special reason to celebrate: the dedication of a monument containing the names of all 402 veterans buried in the cemetery.

"I’m just proud to be here today and see my father’s name up on this panel as one of the veterans buried here in this cemetery," said Walt Borla, a member of Saint Anthony of Padua Parish.

Borla’s father emigrated from Italy to the United States in 1910 and fought for the U.S. in WWI. Borla himself is a WWII veteran.

The monument came about because the cemetery lacks room for more graves in the American Legion plot, said Neil Breinholt, master of ceremonies for the Memorial Day event. Three couples from St. Anthony of Padua – Louise and Charles Hamilton, Dan and Charline Cummins and Willie and Doreen Lopan – formed a committee to create the monument. Both Charles Hamilton and Dan Cummins are past Grand Knights of the parish’s Knights of Columbus council.

Louise Hamilton’s father and brother-in-law are buried in Mt. View Cemetery.

"I don’t want them forgotten, and there was nothing else I could do" to perpetually honor them, she said, pointing out that the monument includes solar lighting so that the American flag can be flown at all times in front of the marble panels containing the veterans’ names.

The committee sought approval from Fred Martinez of the Helper American Legion to erect the monument in the organization’s cemetery plot.

"One day my name will be here, too," said Martinez, a WWII veteran.

The fundraising drive for the monument began in 2012, and community support was overwhelming, Breinholt said. "We had amazing support from so many private donors."

The monument was dedicated in the name of American Legion Posts 3 and 21, said Neldon Huff of the Price American Legion, a Navy veteran.

Because of veterans, "our lives are free; because of them our nation lives," he said. "They fought for us. Some fell. Now, with one accord, with deep reverence, we do them honor.... I dedicate this memorial to those departed service members of the United States military whose remains are interred in this cemetery… May this monument forever preserve their memories for their families and comrades."

Among the other speakers was Commander Jim Johnson of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, who said he appreciated the monument as a memorial to those who had served in the nation’s military. "When they were with us, many felt like they would be forgotten. I hope they put that fear aside because we are here to prove we did not forget them and what they did for all of us.... They deserve to be honored by all Americans."

The day’s keynote speaker was Senator David Hinkins, who not only acknowledged those who sacrificed their lives in service to their country, but added, "We can tell those of you who are here today that have served us and protected us and protected other people throughout the world how much we appreciate, how much we love you."

The dedication ceremony included a 21-gun salute and placement of a wreath.

Donations for future name plaques continue to be accepted to the Wells Fargo Bank Helper Veterans Monument Memorial account.