The ceremony in Hamilton, which was preceded by a parade, was one of a handful in the county and several in the region to make good on the promise to “always remember” those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation this Memorial Day.
From a number of 21-gun salutes to patriotic music — such as “Proud to be an American” and “America the Beautiful” — hundreds of people around Butler County honored and remembered those men and women as Memorial Day is “more than just a day off work,” said Fairfield Mayor Steve Miller.
“You have to be thankful for all the sacrifice, dedication and service these folks gave to our country. We wouldn’t be able to enjoy all these things we have without them,” he said.
Hamilton Fire Department Deputy Chief Jeff Shaw, the grand marshal for the Hamilton Memorial Day parade, said millions of American men and women have fought and died in two World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, two wars in Iraq, a war in Afghanistan, and now Syria. They are people who believed “that this country, its people and ideals are worth defending, and more important themselves individually.”
“To every Soldier, Sailor, Airman and Marine — past, present and future — I salute you,” he said.
But for Shaw, this Memorial Day is different than every year prior.
“As not only as members of our armed forces standing guard daily, there are citizen protectors standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a week all across this great land in the public safety forces as firemen, paramedics and policemen,” he said. “These men and women are the first line of defense against domestic threats, whether they be man-made or natural. These men and women stand ready.”
He then talked about fallen firefighter Patrick Wolterman.
“On the night of Dec. 28, 2015, one of my brothers, Patrick Wolterman, paid this ultimate price while fighting a house fire on Pater Avenue. Initial reports were that there were two elderly people trapped on the second floor,” Shaw said. “Patrick and his company officer made their way to the second floor to rescue those two trapped people.
“As they entered the front door through that thick black smoke, an extremely weakened front floor gave way and sent Patrick straight to the basement where the inferno took his life.”
And Shaw said his brothers and sisters, and the city of Hamilton, “now only have memories of a great man willing to give his all for someone he didn’t know.”
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