Local veterans offer a gun salute to their fallen comrades.

Veterans honor fallen in Sunday Memorial Day service

About 30 people honored veterans by attending the brief Memorial Day service held by the Bruce Wayne Osborne Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 7034 on the courthouse lawn Sunday afternoon.

Post Commander Eldon Edwards addressed the crowd.

“Our presence here is in solemn commemoration of all these men; an expression of our tribute to their devotion to duty, to their courage and patriotism,” he said. “By their services on land, on sea and in the air, they have made us their debtors, for the flag of our nation still flies over a land of free people.”

Following a prayer by Chaplain Earl Baker, a wreath was placed in front of the gravestone honoring the fallen men and women of each branch of service as a symbol of remembrance.

Red, white and blue flowers were placed upon the wreath by the post’s junior vice commander, officer of the day and president of the ladies auxiliary.

The white flowers, placed by Junior Vice Commander Thomas Ham, symbolize purity. The Officer of the Day, Harrol Blevins, placed red flowers to symbolize those who fell in the line of duty. The blue flowers, placed by Ladies Auxiliary President Lucille Craven, were placed as an emblem of eternity.

“Its color bespeaks life everlasting,” she said. “Thus do we immortalize the brave deeds of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines who have given their lives on land, on sea and in the air.” Edwards then placed a flag on the top to complete the wreath.

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