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Ceremony celebrates sacrifices of soldiers
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| U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R-Fla.) speaks Friday at a Memorial Day ceremony at the VA Medical Center on the sacrifices made by soldiers to ensure the protection of our freedoms. TROY ROBERTS/Lake City Reporter |
U.S. Rep Ander Crenshaw delivered speech at event.
By TROY ROBERTS
troberts@lakecityreporter.com
Men and women who have given their lives serving their country during military service were honored Friday at the VA Medical Center Friday, three days ahead of Monday’s federal holiday.
Rainy weather forced the annual service inside the VA Medical Center auditorium on Friday, but those who have given the ultimate sacrifice serving their country were still honored by nearly the 100 people gathered in attendance.
U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R-Fla.), 4th congressional district, spoke to those in attendance about the sacrifices made by soldiers to ensure the protection of our freedoms. He said that U.S. cemeteries are full of men and women who have bravely served their country, each coming from a different place with a different story, but all share the same bond.
“In every instance, in every way, these men and women answered our nation’s call to serve and we owe them our gratitude,” Crenshaw said. “Our nation’s greatness is drawn from the honorable sacrifices from these courageous men and women.”
Each major branch of the military was honored during the ceremony. Lake City Reporter Publisher Michael Leonard introduced community members who stood in to represent each branch. Third Judicial Circuit Court Judge E. Vernon Douglas represented the U.S. Army, Stephen M. Castro represented the U.S. Navy, Henry J. Maini represented the U.S. Marine Corps, Dennis Tarkington represented the U.S. Air Force, Matthew Krause represented the U.S. Coast Guard and Willie Harris represented the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Lake City City Councilman and Vice-Mayor John Robertson, standing in for Mayor Stephen Witt, read a proclamation declaring Monday as Memorial Day in Lake City.
The Richardson Middle School choir performed a medley of patriotic tunes during the event. Columbia High School sophomore Katie Shaffer led the audience in the National Anthem, while Timothy Whiddon finished the event by playing taps on a trumpet.
Memorial Day takes place the last Monday of May, and was established following the Civil War to honor Union soldiers who had fallen in battle. After World War I, the day was expanded to encompass any American soldier who had perished in battle.
Rainy weather forced the annual service inside the VA Medical Center auditorium on Friday, but those who have given the ultimate sacrifice serving their country were still honored by nearly the 100 people gathered in attendance.
U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R-Fla.), 4th congressional district, spoke to those in attendance about the sacrifices made by soldiers to ensure the protection of our freedoms. He said that U.S. cemeteries are full of men and women who have bravely served their country, each coming from a different place with a different story, but all share the same bond.
“In every instance, in every way, these men and women answered our nation’s call to serve and we owe them our gratitude,” Crenshaw said. “Our nation’s greatness is drawn from the honorable sacrifices from these courageous men and women.”
Each major branch of the military was honored during the ceremony. Lake City Reporter Publisher Michael Leonard introduced community members who stood in to represent each branch. Third Judicial Circuit Court Judge E. Vernon Douglas represented the U.S. Army, Stephen M. Castro represented the U.S. Navy, Henry J. Maini represented the U.S. Marine Corps, Dennis Tarkington represented the U.S. Air Force, Matthew Krause represented the U.S. Coast Guard and Willie Harris represented the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Lake City City Councilman and Vice-Mayor John Robertson, standing in for Mayor Stephen Witt, read a proclamation declaring Monday as Memorial Day in Lake City.
The Richardson Middle School choir performed a medley of patriotic tunes during the event. Columbia High School sophomore Katie Shaffer led the audience in the National Anthem, while Timothy Whiddon finished the event by playing taps on a trumpet.
Memorial Day takes place the last Monday of May, and was established following the Civil War to honor Union soldiers who had fallen in battle. After World War I, the day was expanded to encompass any American soldier who had perished in battle.
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| Teen slated to participate in national oratory competition |
Memorial Day wrote on May 24, 2008 11:21 AM:
Thank you Lake City Reporter "Publisher, Michael Leonard" "