Monday marked the inaugural Memorial Day service at the Northeast Louisiana Veteran’s Cemetery in Rayville.
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Stone and King both spoke on the sacrifice of America’s armed forces members, as well as the responsibility of today’s Americans to honor those sacrifices by holding tight to the values they died for. My dad served. It’s an honor to be able to come out here and do it. Memorial Day is a day for remembering and honoring military personnel who died in the service of their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle.
The barbeque is done to honor and celebrate the memory of the fallen American comrades at the Turlock VFW post. “We wouldn’t have this day if it wasn’t for all those who didn’t come home”, says Vietnam veteran Tom Gardner.
Roughly 70 people gathered at Veteran’s Memorial Park in downtown to open the day. “I was 3 when he passed, so never really understanding it until as we got older and realized the importance and the sacrifice that he made along with all the other veterans, that this is fantastic”, she said.
“These people died for us”, said Ryan, of Boiling Springs.
“World War II guys, they’re leaving us fast”.
“We all probably served alongside someone who is not here today because he or she was killed in action”, guest speaker Patrick Hassler said, addressing the veterans in the audience.
The Legion ceremony was one of several that honored America’s fallen servicemen and servicewomen throughout Siouxland Monday. Thousands of participants put flowers and flags on the graves of more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Since, the holiday has been used to remember military personnel who died in the service of their country. The Color Guard will be paying tribute to past veterans at Mt. Baker Cemetery at 11 a.m.
But this Memorial Day commemoration in Thomaston holds an even deeper meaning.
Veterans groups representing the Korean and Vietnam wars recognized their war dead by reading their names aloud.
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Veterans Day and Memorial Day have different histories.
