COEUR d'ALENE — Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 889’s incoming commander, Robert Martin, spoke to a large crowd at the McEuen Park Veterans Pavilion on Memorial Day morning.

With the pavilion flags at half staff, decorated Vietnam veteran and retired Army Sgt. Martin opened with a poem — "Just a Common Soldier," also known as "A Soldier Died Today," by A. Lawrence Vaincourt.

"He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin,

But his presence should remind us we may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier's part

Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start."

Reverent and quiet, attendees listened to Martin as he spoke of his service in Vietnam, which included four combat tours and fighting in the Ia Drang Valley campaign and the Battle of Hamburger Hill.

"I can’t help but think of the young guys that I had served with in Vietnam," he said. "We were all just kids with dreams and aspirations, just like all young people. The terrible difference was many of us would not return home to pursue those dreams."

He said he had the honor of serving with some of the finest young men he will ever know.

"Many were cut down in the bloom of their lives, sacrificed upon the cherished altar of freedom," he said, adding that in the Vietnam war, "uncommon valor was a common occurrence."

He shared a story about one example of the uncommon valor he witnessed when his platoon was pinned down under machine gun fire along a hillside.

"As we slowly advanced up the hill, a young trooper was hit by fire through his abdomen and his legs," Martin said. "While still under withering fire, another young man instantly left his position of cover to pull his comrade to safety, but was also hit by machine gun fire. He died before we could get him to the medevac. The young man gave his life. The young man that he gave his life for, however, did survive.

"It was a simple, unselfish act of bravery, loyalty and love that we rarely see today," he continued. "The fine young American heroes, they never asked for anything, but they gave everything. They were indeed the best our country had to offer and I shall remember them until the end of my days."

The Memorial Day ceremony, hosted by VFW Post 889, included words from Martin and outgoing Post Commander Gary Sevick as well as rifle salutes and a wreath-laying ceremony, where a red, white, blue and green wreath was placed in the water near the Third Street dock to honor those lost at sea.

"It lets people honor their veterans," Sevick said. "Coeur d’Alene has probably the most generous and patriotic people I’ve ever seen in any town."

Martin said even though Memorial Day is a holiday of barbecues and summer preparation for many, for others it holds a special significance.

"For some of us, Memorial Day is a day that we commemorate and celebrate with humble reverence the memory of absent comrades, all of who give true meaning to the words of valor, sacrifice, loyalty and perseverance," he said.

Joy Sellers of Coeur d'Alene attended the service with her Army veteran husband, Allen. She said she is incredibly proud of America's veterans, those who made the ultimate sacrifice and those who honor them.

"I would like to see the younger generation appreciate what Memorial Day’s all about," she said. "It’s not necessarily a happy Memorial Day. We are mourning the loss of our soldiers. Today is the day to mourn the loss of soldiers."