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ZEBULON - Memorial Day is a day to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while in the service of our great country. Pike County Post 197, The American Legion, Department of Georgia will hold a Memorial Day Service on the Courthouse Square. Bryan Richardson was the guest speaker, and the Honor Guard from the Pike County Sheriff's Office posted the colors for this remembrance.
Lt. Col. Bryan Richardson (retired) said that he was honored to speak to members of the community about the real meaning of Memorial Day. He told how Americans have been remembering those who have died while fighting for our country since the Revolutionary War and the birth of our country. The decoration of graves began under the leadership of women during the Civil War, grew into the first Memorial Day observance on April 25, 1866, and how all American soldiers were honored after World War I with the proclamation of a federal holiday coming during the late 1900's.
Memorial Day is a holiday that officially marks the beginning of summer. He asked how are some ways to honor service members who have given the ultimate sacrifice. Flying the flag at half-mast from dawn until noon in honor of 1 million fallen service members and than raising it to the top of the staff until sunset in honor of our nation's living veterans and service members.
He also told how the Veteran's Memorial on the Square honors those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country like Lance Corporal Jeffery D. Walker who died in combat in Iraq and Chief Boatswain Mate Willie Lee King who died in Vietnam. And citizens gather all over America and participate in Memorial Day activities every year like placing flags on service member graves, conducting parades with living veterans as Grand Marshals and guest speakers, and attending remembrance ceremonies like this one.
"The activities we do on Memorial Day, are what makes this day so special. We honor the more than once million men and women who lost their lives defending America in wars from the Revolution to the Global War on Terrorism," he said. That's why we hear the phrase "Freedom is not free" because those heroes paid for our freedom. "We owe it to those who sacrificed everything and were deprived of the very freedoms they fought for and we now cherish: our life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Let us never lost focus of what Memorial Day means."
The family of Lance Corporal Jeffery Walker was honored during this remembrance ceremony. His mother Theresa Rutledge and his son, Conner, were in attendance as well other family members and friends. Richardson told those in attendance that sharing their time in remembering and honoring those service members who have died so that we can live free is what Memorial Day is all about. This ensures that Corporal Walker and Chief King's deaths were not in vain.
Photos submitted to Pike County Times. Click here to see pictures from American Legion Pike Post 197's Annual Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony.
