Correspondent photo / Brandon Cantwell ... The Sons of the American Confederacy conducted a rifle salute at the Boardman Memorial Day program in Boardman Park on Monday. From left are Kelli Wright, Dallas Wright, Jeff Gall and Ron Johnson.

BOARDMAN — James Guterba noted his daily engagements with dedicated North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong forces and the stifling heat, humidity and never-ending rain during the monsoon season as some of the fierce challenges he faced in the Vietnam war.

Guterba joined the Marine Corps in 1962 and was the keynote speaker at Monday’s 118th annual Boardman Memorial Day service at Boardman Park’s Maag Outdoor Arts Theatre. More than 200 people attended the event.

The Kiwanis Club of Boardman hosted the gathering. Kiwanis member Mark Luke served as master of ceremonies for the second year in a row and provided a history of Memorial Day and reminded attendees to honor those who served to uphold the freedoms they have today.

The story Guterba shared detailed his time in Vietnam and what Memorial Day means to him.

“Memorial Day has a special meaning to me and to the family and friends of those servicemen and women who served our country. Every day is Memorial Day. For them, it is a date to express heartfelt appreciation for those who gave it all,” Guterba said.

Guterba talked about the lows of his time in Vietnam, mentioning how soldiers averaged four hours of sleep a night, only to wake up and have rations — compressed food of items such as canned peaches or ham and lima beans, the latter of which everyone despised and tried to trade away. He also cited the lack of hot meals.

“My Christmas dinner in 1965 was a can of peaches and some powdered coffee heated up with a C4 plastic explosive because we couldn’t get heat tabs,” Guterba recalled.

Despite all of the lows of his time in Vietnam, Guterba praised the efforts of the women who served as nurses.

“While women did not serve on the front lines in those days, for the most part, their sacrifices and sufferings were no less important in that they faithfully served the field hospitals, casualty collection stations and hospital ships,” he said. “Nurses worked endless hours making life and death decisions in triage, which meant each nurse had to assess, treat and decide who would be next for surgery.”

Dr. Fred Soller, a veteran who served in World War II, talked about the anxiety he had when he was drafted, and what it was like choosing between the Army, Marines and Navy.

They put us in this big room and I saw three desks up in front of that gymnasium, and I realized I would have to make a choice. I saw an Army guy come in and go to one of the tables and immediately knew I didn’t want that (to join the Army),” Soller said.

His lack of interest in the Army stemmed from his brother, who was an infantry member. His brother told him that whatever he did, to stay out of the Army.

For those attending, Memorial Day has different meanings.

Justin Miller, 43, attended because he attends every year. His son participated in the flag ceremony and believes that doing it instills his son with a strong sense of citizenship.

Roy Wright, a member of the Kiwanis Club, attended so he could honor veterans.

Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Bill Moss served in the placing of the wreaths next to the veterans memorial, where several dozen veterans formed a line and received a standing ovation.

Ron Johnson and other members of the Sons of Confederacy hosted the rifle salute.

The ceremony was preceded by a parade that began at Boardman Center Intermediate School and ended at the park.

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