Havre holds Memorial Day services

Memorial Day many community members and organizations came out to honor veterans who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Veterans Honor Guard, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Elks Lodge and Bullhook Blossoms Garden Club hosted a Memorial Day service on the west side of the Hill County Courthouse, and the Boy Scouts of America troops held a flag retirement ceremony outside of The Bridge.

A quiet, late-morning ceremony Monday recognized local members of the U.S. Armed Forces who died in the line of duty were recognized outside the courthouse.

Dozens of onlookers, surrounded by American flags, lined the sidewalks as the ceremony took place.

A collection of local Scout troops led by Scoutmaster Bill Lanier performed a flag-raising ceremony, which was followed by the presentation of wreaths by Terry Roemmich and Carol Johnson of the American Legion, Josh Gomez of the VFW, American Legion Riders President Brian Carpenter, and multiple members of the Havre Elks Lodge.

The Veterans Honor Guard was in attendance to perform taps and a three-volley salute.

At The Bridge, local Scouts continued a three-year tradition in the flag retirement.

"To me, it's the ideal way to celebrate memorial day than to read the names of those who have died for our country while we retire the flags the proper way," BSA Assistant District Commissioner of the Hi-Line and U.S. Air Force Veteran Anthony Cammon said.

The flag retirement ceremony first started as an Eagle Scout project by Kougar Lanier of pack 1438 in 2017.

In 2017, Lanier had worked on six flag drop boxes either built from scratch or repurposed from decades-old boxes used to haul supplies for campouts. The boxes were placed for people to drop flags off that they wanted to be retired in both Blaine and Hill counties.

Lanier's father, Scout leader Bill Lanier said his son originally started the collection boxes and the retirement ceremony because he saw a need in the community. He added that it was originally not supposed to be an annual event, but because of the need in the community has become a tradition.

The Scouts also participated in the National Moment of Remembrance during the ceremony this year, where they took a moment of silence at 3 p.m. Monday, he said. Not many people remember the Moment of Remembrance that is meant to have people stop and honor veterans who have died.

Kougar Lanier said three years ago he noticed a number of flags around town that were flown tattered, dis-colored and misshaped. At the time there was no easy way for residents of Hill County to retire their flags.

He added that his favorite part of the ceremony is seeing everyone come together to support other people who have lost family members and honor them. Every year, each flag that is retired is done in memory of a veteran, Lanier said, and every year more names are added.

U.S. Navy veteran and Havre Elks Club member Bob Nieuwenhuyse said he was at the event to represent the Elks Club and honor veterans who have died.

Nieuwenhuyse participated and retired a flag in honor of his late wife, Sue, who was a U.S. Air Force Nursing Corps veteran and who died in 2014.

"As a veteran and as an Elk, it makes me exceptionally proud of our flag and all of those who have served beneath it," he said.

He added that the Elks were one of the original sponsors for the event and the attention and patriotic behavior of the Scouts is impactful to him.

"My compliments to Kougar and all of the Scouts who participated," he said.

Girl Scout leader Kirsten Boyle said the event for her is special and makes her proud to be an American.

"It's about remembering the lives that have been spent to keep us free, to have the freedoms we have today," she said.

She added that she and her husband have a long lineage of veterans in both of their families, including cousins who are serving in the armed forces now.

"Even though we don't see it day to day there is a price that is paid, sometimes not just by the fallen but those who come back hurt in their mind or in their spirit," she said.

She said that her favorite part of the ceremony is when the Scouts display the flags for the last time in remembrance of the veterans.

"It's just saying farewell," she said.

Cammon said his favorite part of the ceremony is when the flags are unfolded for the final time and receive the last salute.

"We don't just throw them in," he said. "We unfurl them and give them one last final salute, (which) to me shows them the respect they deserve."

His son, Troop 1438 Senior Patrol Leader Eagle Scout Hiram Cammon, said his family has a long proud history of people who have served in the armed forces and that was why the ceremony was important to him.

"I want to make sure that they, as well as all other veterans who have died, are honored in the proper fashion," he said. "I want (the Scouts) to know that this is truly a spiritual moment in which we can remember those who have fallen for us and what makes our country so great. It's not the country itself, it's not the land, it's not what we have, it's the freedom and those who sacrificed themselves for it. I want them to know that so that they can grow up with that knowledge and respect our country as it is and make sure that whenever they do stuff is to remember them and not for their own selfish reasons."

He added that in the future he plans to serve in the U.S. Air Force after graduating from college.

Scout Raina Borowiecki of Troop 1406 said she was at the event because it's a Memorial Day tradition and it was nice to be part of it. She added that she has seen her brothers do it before as well as family members who served in the armed forces and that she was excited to be involved.

Kougar Lanier said he graduated from Havre High School Sunday and will soon be leaving the BSA. He said that his troop will take over the operations of the event in the future and they will keep it going for as long as the boxes are in use. He added that they will also be adding a new box where people can donate flags in the next couple of months at the Big Sandy Library.

Flag donation boxes are set up at the Blaine County Court House, Havre-Hill County Library, Holiday Village Mall and the Anthony Cammon State Farm building.

Bill Lanier said the troops participating Monday were Cub Scout Pack 4426, BSA Scout troops 1438 and 1406, which is the first all-female scout troop, Venture Crew 2406, and a few members of the local Girl Scouts of America.

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Ryan Berry contributed to this report.