On Memorial Day, we honor the brave souls who gave their lives in service to this country. Among them are countless LGBTQ+ service members — many who served in silence, denied the right to live openly, even as they laid down their lives for a nation that often denied them dignity.
🕊️ Remembering Allen R. Schindler Jr.
One of the most well-known stories is that of Petty Officer Allen R. Schindler Jr., a 22-year-old U.S. Navy radioman. Allen was brutally murdered in 1992 by a shipmate in Sasebo, Japan, simply because he was gay. He had endured harassment and violence during his service, but he remained committed to his duties. His death helped galvanize the movement that eventually led to the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
Allen’s mother, Dorothy Hajdys-Clausen, continues to share his story, reminding us that LGBTQ+ service members have always been part of the fabric of military history — even if their identities were hidden or erased.
🕊️ Fallen in Silence
Before policies like "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" were repealed, LGBTQ+ people served under threat of discharge or worse. Many went to war with no assurance that they would ever be remembered for who they truly were.
Some served anonymously, their sexuality erased in official records. Yet within personal letters, photographs, and fading memories, we know they were there.
Names like:
- Technical Sergeant Leonard Matlovich, U.S. Air Force — though he survived Vietnam, his advocacy and sacrifice in fighting for LGBTQ+ rights in the military changed the course of history.
- Joseph Rochefort, a Navy cryptanalyst during WWII, was rumored by some to have been gay — a reminder of how many lived and died in the shadows, their truth never fully acknowledged.
🌈 Legacy of Courage
While many LGBTQ+ service members were never publicly recognized, Memorial Day is a time to correct that silence — to speak their names, to remember their courage, and to honor their full humanity.
In cemeteries across the country rest brave individuals whose headstones don’t reveal the struggles they faced beyond enemy lines — within the military, within society, and sometimes within themselves.
But we remember.
We remember them as patriots.
We remember them as pioneers.
We remember them as heroes.
✊ #OutInKansas Honors All Who Served
Today, #OutInKansas stands in remembrance of all LGBTQ+ service members — known and unknown — who gave everything for a country still learning how to fully embrace them.
Let us carry their legacy forward with love, pride, and an unwavering commitment to justice.
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Memorial Day Events in Wichita, Derby and Winfield today
Starting: 11:00 AM, May 26, 2025 | Veterans Memorial Park, The Master of Ceremonies (US Navy Veteran Bob Fugit) will offer a few remarks and introduce the guest speaker. Following the speaker's address, the Marine Corps League will render a 3-volley rifle salute, followed by the sounding of Taps.
Botanica's Birthday Bash & Memorial Day Tribute
Enjoy live music from Air Traffic Jazz on the Terrace Patio from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, take part in special birthday activities, and enjoy a complimentary slice of birthday cake served at noon (while supplies last). This special day also includes moments of reflection in honor of Memorial Day, with opportunities to pause and remember those who have served.
Evergreen Library parking lot, 2601 N Arkansas Ave, 9 a.m. – For those looking for a physical challenge, fitness club F3 Wichita is hosting a Murph Challenge on Memorial Day. The Murph Challenge is a nationwide fitness test named after Lt. Michael P. Murphy, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 2007 after serving in Afghanistan. The workout consists of a one-mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 squats and another one-mile run. James A. Garfield Memorial, Lakeview Cemetery, 12100 E. 13th St., 10 a.m. – Colonel Johari J. Hemphill, the commander of the 22nd Mission Support Group at McConnell Air Force Base, is the guest speaker at this year’s Lakeview Cemetery event honoring fallen soldiers. Soloist Huron Breaux will perform “God Bless the USA” and “America the Beautiful.” Flags will be placed at the graves of more than 9,000 veterans buried at the cemetery.
Resthaven Mortuary, 11800 W. U.S. 54, 11 a.m. – Wichita Mayor Lily Wu will deliver comments at the 65th annual Resthaven Memorial Day Program. The Jayhawk Wing of the Commemorative Air Force will do a flyover salute to kick off the event. The mortuary and park will remain open after the ceremony.
Greenwood Cemetery, 6231 W. 47th St. South, 11 a.m. – Aaron Grunden, Air Force veteran and member of VFW Post 6957, will be the guest speaker at this annual ceremony. For more information on the event, call 316-524-7119.
Wichita museums are part of the Blue Star Museum program in which military members and their family members may visit the museum free of charge. It begins on Armed Forces Day (May 17) and ends on Labor Day (Sept. 1). Blue Star Museums in Wichita include Exploration Place, Kansas Aviation Museum, Old Cowtown Museum, Wichita Art Museum, Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum and Botanica Wichita.
Derby El Paso Cemetery, 700 E. Kay St., 10 a.m. – The Derby VFW post is hosting its annual Memorial Day service at the El Paso Cemetery. Colonel Donald E. McClure, commander of the 184th Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group at McConnell Air Force Base, is the guest speaker. Hillcrest Cemetery, 10102 E. 95th St., 11 a.m. – Colonel Cynthia A. Welch, commander of the 931st Air Refueling Wing at McConnell Air Force Base, is the primary speaker at the American Legion Family Post 408’s annual Memorial Day event.
Winfield WVO Barbell Club, 107 E 7th Ave, 9 a.m. – This fitness club in Winfield is hosting its own Murph Challenge for Memorial Day. Kids and families are encouraged to come and participate. Committal Shelter, Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery, 1208 N. College St., 10 a.m. – Winfield’s American Legion, VFW and Boy and Girl Scout troops will attend the Veterans’ Cemetery event. Taps will be played, wreaths will be placed on graves and Army veteran Kenneth Ault is the guest speaker. Guests are encouraged to bring chairs.
