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Jeff Becker, a native of Kalamazoo and former sentinel of The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, delivers a speech in front of Dowagiac City Hall Monday morning. Becker served as this year’s guest speaker for the annual Memorial Day Parade downtown. (Leader photo/TED YOAKUM)

Dowagiac VFW Post Commander Bill Bobik greets audiences before the start of the parade. (Leader photo/TED YOAKUM)

A couple of people look on at the ceremony on Main Street. (Leader photo/TED YOAKUM)

The local VFW color guard stands at attention. (Leader photo/TED YOAKUM)

Musicians with the Kalamazoo Pipes & Drums. (Leader photo/TED YOAKUM)

Miss Dowagiac Madison Phelps and her court greet people on Front Street. (Leader photo/TED YOAKUM)

The Miss Eau Claire/Sodus Princess waves to the crowd during the parade. (Leader photo/TED YOAKUM)

MKSOD’s Positively Dance troupe. (Leader photo/TED YOAKUM)

A family holds up a sign to welcome the parade on Front Street. (Leader photo/TED YOAKUM)

The hue of the crisp skies above was not the only shade of blue that dominated the streets of downtown Monday morning.

Hundreds of Dowagiac residents packed Front Street — many sporting the venerable red, white and blue of Old Glory on the flags they waved or on the patriotic-themed clothing they wore — for the city’s annual Memorial Day Parade, organized once again by members of Peninsular Lodge No. 10. More than 20 units participated in the parade, with the procession winding its way through Main and Front streets downtown before turning on Division Street and Riverside Drive, stopping at the cemetery for a ceremony honoring local veterans who perished protecting their nation in combat.

Prior to the start of the parade, local dignitaries, including former Cass County commissioner and veteran Robert Wagel and Dowagiac Mayor Don Lyons, welcomed audiences to the annual event. Also present was Dowagiac VFW Post Commander Bill Bobik, who reminded people of the reason Memorial Day is celebrated across the county: to recognize those who lost their lives fighting to protect America.

“Even though we mourn for those who we have lost, there comes a need to move forward,” Bobik said. “Our fallen have given what Lincoln called their last, full, major devotion. They did it to serve America. They did it to serve us.”

Taking the stage after Bobik was this year’s guest speaker, retired Army solider Jeff Becker. The native of Kalamazoo spent two years serving as a sentential of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington D.C., a monument recognizing unidentifed soldiers who served in World War I, World War II and Korea.

Serving on 24-hour shifts with 48-hour breaks in between, serving as a guard for the tomb is a highly difficult, yet highly respected, role in the U.S. Army, Becker said. Being visible to the public, Becker and other sententials were required to take utmost care in their appearance, getting haircuts twice a week and spending hours between shifts polishing their shoes and preparing their uniforms for inspection, he said.

“In my two-plus years guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Solider, I never failed an inspection,” he said. “But 30 years later, I still occasionally have a nightmare of walking up to my post only to realize I don’t have my pants on.”

He closed his remarks by asking the audience to remember the fallen, be they unknown or known.

“Regardless about how you feel about any American conflict, I think it is important that we not lost sight of the sacrifice of the individuals who fought and gave all for their country,” Becker said.

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