SPRINGFIELD – Memorial Day proved to be a fitting time for Musgrove Family Mortuaries & Cemeteries to unveil its new Court of Honor at Springfield Memorial Gardens to remember and respect Oregonians who served in the United States Armed Forces.
The original monument was dedicated May 30, 1967 through the joint efforts of the Springfield American Legion Post #40 and Springfield Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #3965. The monuments previously at the northeast corner of the cemetery were replaced with new, polished, granite structures, including a distinguished granite flagpole base inscribed with the names and ranks of area veterans.
“There is nothing more important than recognizing and honoring the service of the men and women who risked or lost their lives to defend our freedoms,” said Kristi Pyle, market sales manager. “The new expanded area will offer veterans’ families many new options for permanently memorializing their loved ones. From simple plaques to an ossuary, in-ground burial sites, and a cremation niche wall with space for more than 100 veterans, the choices are as varied as the heroic deeds of the fallen.”
Pyle encourages veterans’ families to consider the new Court of Honor for permanent placement of cremation urns held in their homes.
“Recent research conducted by the Cremation Association of North America found that nearly one in four U.S. households have human cremated remains in their homes. That’s 21.9 million families with parents, grandparents, and extended family members who have not been memorialized in any permanent way. More than half of those remains are U.S. veterans,” Pyle said. “Veterans’ families that choose to honor their loved ones with permanent memorials create a place where their stories of service and sacrifice live on for future generations.”
Nick Gillaspie, U.S. Air Force veteran and American Legion Post #40 commander, said he looks forward to there being future events and ceremonies at the Court of Honor.
“I am sure this will be an important place for veterans and their loved ones to stop and reflect on the sacrifice of those that have gone before us,” Gillaspie said. “The inclusion of new places for the remains of veterans and their spouses within the Court of Honor makes it all that much more important and meaningful. We look forward to having future events and ceremonies at this location.”
According to National Indian Council on Aging, Inc., Native Americans serve in the U.S. Armed Forces at five times the national average “and have served with distinction in every major conflict for over 200 years.”
“It is a great honor to have this new memorial in Lane County,” said Dean Armstrong, president of the Native American Cultural Association of Oregon and co-director of the Native American Honor Guard. “Veterans and the warrior class hold very high standings in the tribes throughout North America. My grandfather was a World War II veteran and spent 39 months in a Japanese prisoner of war camp. I am pleased that the Musgrove group continues to honor our veterans.”
City officials and members of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce will hold another ribbon cutting for the Court of Honor at Springfield Memorial Gardens on Friday, May 31 at 3 p.m.
