By LARRY LANNAN
The cloudy skies and cool temperatures marked the beginning of the Fishers Memorial Day event, but the day began to warm and the sun started peeking from the sky as the ceremony continued. This was a stark contrast to 2020 when the pandemic prevented any in-person Memorial Day event.
I have attended every Memorial Day ceremony in Fishers since it became a city in 2015 and this was the largest crowd yet assembled. There was a good reason – the new Gold Star Families Memorial Monument was unveiled at Monday’s event.
Gold Star Families lost a family member in military service.
The White River Brass Troupe handled the music. Colonel Doug Hendrick, a U.S. Army reserve Chaplain, provided emotional stories of heroism on the battlefield and the military hospitals. Indiana National Guard Brigadier General Timothy Winslow was overcome with grief as he spoke of families losing loved ones in war. Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness spoke of his own young sons in understanding the sacrifices military families endure.
But the most important people at this event were the Gold Star families themselves, invited by the city to attend this ceremony and lay a flower at the memorial being dedicated on this Memorial Day.
Photos provided by Larry Lannan