SANDPOINT — Remembering those who died in service to America dates back to before the Civil War.

But it was after the horrors of that war that John Logan, commander in chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, made popular an effort by a Columbus, Ga., woman. Mary Ann Williams was among the first to decorate the graves of soldiers who died in the war.

Over time, the two efforts — the first that honored Union soldiers and the second that honored those who served in the Confederacy — merged into one, retired Brig. Gen. Bryan Hult told those gathered at both Pinecrest and Lakeview cemeteries for the community's annual Memorial Day services.

The meaning of Memorial Day can be summed up in an acrostic for the word "Memorial," Hult said.

The first M in the word stands for "memorial," Hult told the crowd.

"One of our great veterans, Marine Dale Hansen, 19 years old, five foot nine, 141 pounds," Hult said. "He was not the biggest Marine that there was, but he fought like a giant."

After landing on Okinawa, Japan, on Easter Day, 1945, Hansen took a rocket launcher and crawled to an exposed position and fired on an enemy pillbox. After his weapon was destroyed, Hansen seized a rifle and continued his one-man assault.

"Private Hansen proceeded to destroy a strong mortar position and put down eight more enemy soldiers for his actions. His parents received his medal of honor. Why?," Hult asked. "Because three days after his magnificent actions, he was killed by a sniper and laid to rest."

The E in the word stands for everyone, a reminder we all need to heed the important things in life, the retired brigadier general said.

"We need to be reminded for what's really important in life, we forget because life gets busy and there's so many distractions of life that we forget what really is important," Hult said.

The second M stands for the men and women who serve, with Hult noting they are what is important in life.

"It's not the things, it's not the projects, it's not the travels, the entertainment, or even the plans," Hult said. "It's the people, the men and women, that are important in life, who are willing to submit to the Commander in Chief's orders for the sake of freedom in our country. Every man and woman who wears the uniform gave some, but some, as we honor today, gave all."

The O in the word stands for observances, honoring the more than one million soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen from the Revolutionary War to today who gave their lives in service to their country, Hult said.

"Over a million have died, so that you and I could have the freedoms to enjoy the greatest blessings of any country in human history," he added. "Scripture says greater love has no one than this, than to lay down their life for their friends, their family, their friends, their comrades, in their country, citizens, men and women in uniform have done it for our present freedom."

The R in the word stands for rally as fellow citizens pay tribute to the devotion of those who fell in service to America.

"The red of our flag reminds us of the blood that was shed on battlefields all over the world for the sake of freedom," Hult said. "Today, the star-studded blue background draws our attention to the heavens above, from which our freedom comes, and the white of the flag represents the purity of devotion, the willingness to obey, to submit, to go and even die for the sake of freedom of our country."

The I in the word doesn't exist in any branch of the military because each is a team and there is no I in team, Hult told those gathered.

"It takes a team in order to be victorious on the battlefield, and yet the I represents every individual who has died that we honor today," he added. "That I is loved by the precious mothers who gave them birth, the fathers who raised them, the brothers and sisters, the friends, the relatives, and even you."

Hult encouraged the community to remember those who have fallen for the freedoms that Americans have; without the sacrifice of those who died, those freedoms would not exist.

"They are not a mass of people, they are individuals, which is why we have the tomb of the unknown soldier, a soldier known only to God, that we remember their name, because each one is important," he added.

The A in the word stands for all — every one of the men and women who fell in service to their country.

"We have life because all of them gave theirs for us, we are indebted to all of them, and we honor them all, lest we forget who they are and what they did," Hult said.

And finally, he said the L in the word stands for love — love for country, love for friends and family and love for the flag.

"Love motivated them to humble themselves and go at the beckoning of their country," Hult said. "They served and even died that we might live in freedom."

In reading the poem, "I Am a Veteran" by Andrea Brett, members of the Daughters of the American Revolution said the poem captures the sacrifice and humanity behind the names on a plaque or list of those who died in service to their country.

"I’m part of a fellowship, a strong mighty band

Of each man and each woman

Who has served this great land

And when Old Glory waves

I stand proud, I stand tall

I helped keep her flying over you, over all," read DAR members in reciting Brett's poem.

Among those attending Monday's ceremony at Pinecrest Cemetery was World War II veteran Thomas Spade.

"I respect the servicemen and we need to honor them," Spade said of why he attends the annual service dressed in his old U.S. Navy uniform.

"I was in there and I enjoyed my time in there and whatnot," he added. "It's an honorable thing to do."

The Bonner County veteran thanked those who turned out for the two services, saying their respect for and honoring of those who gave their lives in service to the United States means a great deal. Now 86, the American Legion post commander still remembers his time in the military and says it is important to honor the men and women who served.

"Everybody should respect Memorial Day because otherwise they wouldn't be free," Spade said.

Marine Corps League chaplain Mike Trenholm told those gathered the day pays tribute to those who lost their lives in defense of America.

"They did it in the deepest jungles and the expansive deserts of the world. They were shot out of the sky. They lay beneath the world's oceans and, in the case of the Civil War and Revolutionary War, they died in the hayfields, creeks, and mountains of our own country," Trenholm said in giving the opening prayer at both Memorial Day tributes. "They were young. Our freedom today, Lord, is because of your mercy and grace, along with the sacrifice of these young men and women."

    Attendees of the Memorial Day service at Lakeview Cemetery capture the ceremony on their cellphones.
  

    Retired Brigadier General Bryan Hult talks about the meaning of Memorial Day to those gathered at Lakeview Cemetery.
  

    Flags decorate columbarium niches at Lakeview Cemetery on Memorial Day.
  

    A local veteran plays "Taps" at the end of Monday's Memorial Day service at Lakeview Cemetery.
  

    Local youth cook hamburgers and hot dogs during a Memorial Day lunch hosted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars post.
  

    Local residents pause at a veteran's grave at Pinecrest Cemetery before Monday's Memorial Day service.
  

    Flags line the graves of Bonner County veterans at Pinecrest Cemetery.
  

    Thomas Spade, right, salutes during the Pledge of Allegiance during Monday's Memorial Day service at Pinecrest Cemetery.
  

    Retired Brigadier General Bryan Hult talks about the meaning of Memorial Day at Pinecrest Cemetery during annual services.
  

    A member of the Marine Corps League rings a bell as the name of a veteran who passed away since Memorial Day 2025 is read.
  

    Members of the Marine Corps League take part in a 21-gun salute to honor those who died in service to the United States.
  

    A Marine Corps League member plays "Taps" during Monday's Memorial Day service at Pinecrest Cemetery.