Draper hosted a brief, patriotic Memorial Day ceremony at the city’s recently installed Gold Star Families memorial at Draper Park. All the flags surrounding the memorial, one for each branch of the military, were at half-staff. Bugler Les Langford of the Timpanogos Honor Guard played “Taps.”  

Mayor Troy Walker explained the ceremony took place at 3 p.m. to coincide with ceremonies happening simultaneously in the nation’s capital at 5 p.m. EDT. 

Walker said he lived on several Army bases in the United States and one base in Germany when he was growing up because his dad was a soldier. He remembered the daily playing of “Taps” on an Army base meant everyone would stop what they were doing to acknowledge the music and its meaning. 

Councilmember Mike Green currently serves in the Utah Army National Guard as a lawyer. Walker and Green were joined at the ceremony by Councilmembers Marsha Vawdrey, Bryn Heather Johnson, Tasha Lowery and former mayor Darryl Smith. Members of the Draper Fire Department, Miss Draper and the Royal Attendants also came in support.

Terri and Steve Wagstaff attended the ceremony and were joined by their children and grandchildren. “I always like to go to these things because my dad was a Marine and I want to support our veterans,” Terri Wagstaff said. The Wagstaff’s daughter Alli Baldwin said, “We’re super grateful for our country and we enjoy these events. I wish more people appreciated it, honestly.”

Justin Nichols and his son James, a student at Corner Canyon High School, also came by the Gold Star monument on Memorial Day. Justin Nichols said he frequently stops by the monument. Justin Nichols is a veteran of the Utah National Guard where he worked as an analyst, but he was quick to give all credit to veterans who saw action or were “boots on the ground” rather than those who worked state-side as he did. 

“Memorial Day is honoring those who gave their life for freedom. Veterans Day is for all who served, but Memorial Day…it’s the next level of appreciation. Back one generation…everyone of that generation knows someone who lost their life. It’s not as prevalent for today’s generation as it is for our grandparents and so forth,” Justin Nichols said. 

In addition to being a Draper firefighter, Andrew Botti also flies Apache helicopters as a member of the National Guard. “It’s always important to remember the people who gave everything for our country,” Botti said. “It should be more than a day, but if that’s all we get, we should make the most of it.” λ