05/25/2026
Memorial Veterans Day Service
Soldiers of wars past are nameless and faceless to us today. But the Memorial Day service Monday morning at Veterans Park brought to life the million or so who made the ultimate sacrifice through centuries of war.
The hour-long service was reflective, thought-provoking and tender.
Among the highlights was Bountiful City Mayor Kate Bradshaw’s account of a recent experience when a delegation from war-torn Ukraine visited to learn what they might do to improve municipal services. Bountiful was chosen among other coteries to host the delegation.
She told how their area of Ukraine had been overtaken by Russian forces, then won back in battle by Ukrainian forces.
During a visit to veterans park, Mayor Bradshaw told how their visit was interrupted by an emergency call to the leader of the Ukrainian group.
He obviously needed time to himself, she said, describing how he sought quiet time. He later told how drones had attacked his area and caused serious casualties.
Both the words delivered by various speakers and selections of popular music reminded the crowd of maybe 500 attendees that freedom isn’t free.
Particularly touching was a song performed by Jared Haddock, “If You Are Reading This.”
The music by Tim McGraw tells of a letter written by a soldier to reassure his family back home that if they are reading a letter from the war department, they are to know he is already home with God.
The Veterans Park, dedicated in 2020, contains several monuments to memorialize those from South Davis County who died in military service, including the Mormon Battalion and the more recent names of those fallen in the war on terror. Names are etched in the black granite walls that line the park.
