Whether celebrating with a parade, the wave of a flag on the front stoop or using a quiet moment of reflection to consider the sacrifice of a friend or loved one, Stateline-area residents will remember countless veterans Monday in a variety of Memorial Day activities (see related graphic).

Those who have been in the military have a unique perspective on what it means to serve their country. Others have watched as daughters and sons have gone off to war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Following are the stories of a handful of Stateline residents for whom Memorial Day remains profoundly special:

Roger Dearth, Clinton
As the post commander of Clinton’s VFW post, Dearth is actively involved in organizing the village’s Memorial Day celebration every year, and this year will be no different. His VFW branch is focusing on the service of Korean War vets this year.

Among the Memorial Day-related changes he’s seen in recent years is increased community participation in various events.

“It’s picked up over the years,” Dearth said, “especially with modern times, today, the way it is — with a war going on.”

Dearth said he appreciates the public’s continued support of veterans organizations like his, and added that it’s important to recognize veterans for their service.

“We’re proud that we’re putting it out there for the public,” he said.

Mike Hahn, Beloit
Though he himself is a recent veteran of Iraq, Mike Hahn said he is in awe of older veterans he has come to know through local veterans organizations.

“It makes Memorial Day and Veterans Day a little bit more special, to know those guys,” said Hahn, a 25-year-old Clinton native, who served for a year with the Army National Guard 1158th Transportation Company of Beloit in 2004-’05. “It has made (Memorial Day) a very important and very somber holiday for me.”

While Hahn regards himself as lucky because he did not lose friends while serving, he knows that many of his fellow soldiers did, both in Iraq and in past wars. When considering older veterans, Hahn said, “These guys, generally, if they served in combat they saw their buddies killed … it gives a bit of perspective to me.

“I was actually very lucky, that I didn’t lose anybody over there. I didn’t experience that on a personal level. But knowing that other people weren’t so lucky, knowing that other people did die — that’s something we need to honor every day of the year.”

Jack Lifer, South Beloit
“My father taught me to respect members of the military,” said Lifer, whose family has a long history of military service. “I didn’t serve, but I’m proud of the Americans that have.”

In order to show his appreciation, Lifer has maintained a small memorial in his front yard for the past 15 years. It has flowers, flags, a headstone, lights and small benches.

“It’s actually to honor all veterans of America,” said Lifer, whose father, two brothers and uncle served in the Army and Navy during wartime. Their service allows Lifer to empathize with anyone who has a relative in the military.

“You could have a daughter over there, a granddaughter over there — it isn’t just men over there now; it’s everybody,” he said.

While Lifer has seen increased respect for the sacrifices of veterans in recent years, he wonders whether people observe Memorial Day for the right reasons.

“People should honor it more than they do now,” he said. “They go out to the parade to get the candy. Really, it upsets me.”

People, he added, should participate in Memorial Day activities that “honor our American heroes — the ones that fought for the life and freedom of our country.”

Brandan and Crystal Majerus, Beloit
When someone you love is serving far from home, Memorial Day takes on a whole new meaning, the Beloit couple said.

“It does make it different. It makes it more personal,” said Brandan Majerus, whose stepson, Jonathon Longstreth, 21, recently returned from a tour of almost 16 months with the Army in Iraq. Longstreth currently is stationed at Fort Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska.

“It’s pretty much been his life-long dream, and he really loves it,” Brandan Majerus said. “He was saying since he was 8 years old that he’s going to be an Airborne Ranger, and now he is. He was inspirational.”

Crystal Majerus, Longstreth’s mother, couldn’t be more proud, though she worries about the inevitability of her son returning to Iraq or Afghanistan, since he re-enlisted for another four years.

“I’m very proud of him,” she said, “Every time we’re at an event where they have the “Star-Spangled Banner” to open it, we get emotional.”
The couple plans to watch Beloit’s Memorial Day parade, in which Longstreth used to march every year with the Beloit Memorial High School junior ROTC.

“You get a lot more personal view of how important it is to have kids like him who are willing to go and serve our country so the rest of us can be free,” Brandan Majerus said. “Support the troops. It doesn’t mean everyone’s got to agree with the politics of it. But support the young men and women who are over there.”

Terry Lolmaugh, Beloit
It’s been more than 20 years since Terry Lolmaugh’s son, Ronald Doerr, joined the Air Force, but she still worries about him every day. Doerr, who works in the Air Force’s intelligence division and was recently promoted to master sergeant, currently is stationed in Qatar.

“He’s been in Saudi Arabia, Desert Storm, he’s been all over, really,” Lolmaugh said. “I still worry about him. I feel a little bit better when he’s in the States.”

Though she has to work on Memorial Day, Lolmaugh will, as always, think about her son often Monday.

“I have a lot of pride on Memorial Day,” she said. “For him, for everyone I’ve ever known who’s served, for all the veterans that are serving now. I think you appreciate it a little bit more having someone serving.”