Taps, patriotism ring out on Armed Forces Day
Fallen Utah soldier is honored on Armed Forces Day in Murray
Army Sgt. Michael R. Lehmiller was honored Saturday at Murray City Park as part of an Armed Forces Day celebration. The Clearfield High School graduate was 23 when he was killed last August in Afghanistan after an explosive device detonated near his Humvee.
Robert Lehmiller read from a letter his son wrote before being deployed.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine . . . I'll see you when I see you," Lehmiller's father read.
In Lehmiller's memory, men in uniform set up a temporary display with a helmet, boots and a gun pointed toward the ground.
The ceremony ended with taps played on a bugle, a rendition of "Amazing Grace" played on bagpipes and seven soldiers firing their rifles three times into the air.
Meanwhile, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, observed Armed Forces Day by visiting troops in Iraq. Hatch and Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., shared a meal Saturday with soldiers at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.
Other celebrations for Armed Forces Day, established in 1949, took place throughout Utah on Saturday.
As recorded country music blared in the background, Huggins talked about how his daughter enlisted in the Army Reserve while still in high school — still a girl, in his eyes.
"There's going to be some changes," said Huggins, whose daughter is due home next month after a year in Iraq. "We don't know what to expect."
Huggins continued taking pictures in the park, which was filled with Humvees, huge inflatable toys for children to play on, people selling things, American flags, shiny old cars all in a row and a large inflatable Marine (looking mean) with real Marines nearby, trying their hand at a chin-up bar.
Dave Merrill lounged in the grass with his wife, Glo, and three children, ages 2, 5 and 7. A retired colonel with the Army Reserve and National Guard, Merrill was hopeful he'd see some old buddies at the park.
Merrill said Saturday's event was also a chance for his children to blow off steam, hear some music and get lots of free stuff.
Glo Merrill said she saw the celebration as a chance to show her support for the troops and to be among like-minded people.
Their oldest child, Hannah, had her own idea about what was the coolest thing about Armed Forces Day.
"I like going down the slide," she said, pointing at a nearby structure filled with air.
E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com
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