Polk County
Living
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • May 27, 2015 7A
EMILY MENTZER/Itemizer-Observer
Bob Zafran presents a flag to Andy Austin on Monday at Independence State Airport in memory of Brig. Gen. Staryl C. Austin Jr., who died Jan. 1, 2015.
REMEMBERING HEROES
Veterans, pilots
honored on
Memorial Day
By Emily Mentzer
The Itemizer-Observer
INDEPENDENCE — Ceremonies through-
out Polk County honored Veterans who died
while overseas as well as those who took their
last flights in the last year, whether they
served in the armed forces or not.
In Independence, Danny Jaffer served as
the master of ceremonies for the 22nd annual
Memorial Day Salute, Aviator Memorial Trib-
ute.
Andy Austin and Kathy Austin were emo-
tional about receiving a flag in honor of Brig.
Gen. Staryl Austin Jr., who died Jan. 1, 2015.
The flag was flown over the United States
Capitol in his honor, as were the 12 other
flags presented to survivors of aviators who
died in the last year. It was presented by Bob
Zafran, Fleet Reserve Association.
“When you live with someone every day,
JOLENE GUZMAN/Itemizer-Observer
and experience that person’s kindness, gen- Each flag lining the Avenue of Flags in
erosity and love, it kind of gives you an ego- Dallas Cemetery is dedicated to a veteran.
centric view of that person,” Kathy Austin This year, the display had about 700 flags.
said. “Coming out to something like this gives
a broader sense of who Staryl was.”
Several people spoke to Andy and Kathy about Staryl, Andy said.
“It’s really a privilege to hear people talk about how much he meant to them,” Andy Austin
said. “He was pretty well liked. He never said a bad word about anybody. The reverse is also
true: I’ve never heard anyone say a bad word about him.”
Rep. Paul Evans (D-District 20) presented the welcome, while Paul Disney, retired colonel
in the U.S. Army, delivered the tribute to pilots.
In Dallas, the 24th annual Avenue of Flags flew over Dallas Cemetery all weekend, be-
ginning on Thursday when volunteers placed about 700 flags commemorating local de-
ceased veterans. The Memorial Day program featured retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Frank
Flux and a performance by
the Dallas High School
Choir.
Both ceremonies included
participation by local Boy
Scout Troops, who led the
Pledge of Allegiance and
handed out flags.
EMILY MENTZER/Itemizer-Observer
Staff Sgt. Dannielle Ritacco, of the Air National Guard Band of the Northwest, plays
taps after the aviator memorial tribute at the Independence Airport on Monday.
JOLENE GUZMAN/ Itemizer-Observer
A legion of volunteers helps set up the Avenue of Flags in Dallas Cemetery each year
before the ceremony on Memorial Day. Here, volunteers assemble flags to be placed.
EMILY MENTZER/ Itemizer-Observer
EMILY MENTZER/ Itemizer-Observer
The flag at the Independence Airport flies at half-staff
until noon, in honor of those who died.
Civil Air Patrol cadets present the Pilot Memorial Wreath, provided by the Oregon Pines Chapter 99s, during the
22nd annual Memorial Day Salute, aviator memorial tribute, at the Independence Airport on Monday.