Editorial Note: Honey Brook auctioneer C. Ivan Stoltzfus is driving cross country for the second time raising funds for America for Wounded Heroes on his 1948 John Deere Model A Tractor. Below, Stoltzfus shares his Memorial Day experience.
By C. Ivan StoltzfusFor Digital First Media
I was up early and headed up to the court house. Yesterday Officer King met with me and said where I should park in front of the court house.
As I arrived it was a beautiful site two semi loads of flags and volunteers planting each flag for those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom and their dog tags hanging from the flag.
It was a humbling experience as all 1,313 names were read off from Plymouth County and there will be 17 more added next year who were killed in 2017.
The music and seeing the flags flowing in the breeze brought you to tears.
My friends Joann and Richard Madden rode over from Storm Lake, Iowa, to spend time with me and were a great help taking pictures.
I drove the rig back to the fairgrounds and spent the afternoon here resting and even took a long nap.
This morning I was invited to the AmericanLegend for breakfast after all the flags were up and again for lunch after the ceremony. It was great meeting so many veterans.
After the ceremony Channel 4 did an interview and had our story on the 6 p.m. news.
Next I will be trekking east on Route 3 and Richard has bikers and veterans meeting up with me at routes 71 and 3 and I hear Channel 4 will be their filming my arrival.
Thanks to Richard for being a help and organizing these events.
