Across Shelby County, people came together Monday, May 31, to honor those who served and died for the sake of freedom.

Bartlett Mayor Keith McDonald, that city’s aldermen and County Commissioner Mick Wright joined about 150 residents at Veterans Park Monday morning for a Memorial Day service.

Veterans help drive home the meaning of Memorial Day

“Today – while we love our veterans, all of them – today is Memorial Day and today we recognize those who gave all,” McDonald said.

Many of those attending the ceremony were veterans. As the official songs of the various armed forces played, they stood for their respective branch. Most of those in attendance served in the U.S. Navy.

“We should all look at our hearts,” Steve Sims Jr., American Legion Post 249 commander, said. “We may not find only our heroes, but we can examine what type of country that we live in. No matter what critics say about America, can a nation that produces such remarkable men and women be anything but a force for good?”

He encouraged those present “to create a country worthy of such sacrifice” and noted the decision to go to war is often from governing officials – not the veterans themselves.

“War is not often the best policy, but the heroes war produces are the best America has known,” he said.

McDonald, who recently had knee surgery, remarked how many benefit from veterans. He acknowledged many medical advances used today were first performed by field doctors.

“We all our beneficiaries of those things,” McDonald said. “But the thing that we are most benefitted by is the willingness to go into battle. ... You go there because you are commanded to go there, and so I would ask you to always pray for the leaders of the country and the leaders of our military, that they’ll always use great judgment from the Lord on high.”

He also quoted John 15:13: “There is no greater love than for one person to lay down their life for others.”

McDonald said some there had a deeper understanding of the passage as their comrades didn’t return home after fighting, to which a few responded “Amen.”

The service ended by laying a wreath in the park and playing Taps.

Some events still looked different due to health concerns. West Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery didn’t have its large ceremony this year, but a few things came together organically for an unofficial ceremony.

Russell Johnson, a Germantown resident and cemetery volunteer, said a Marine wanted to play Taps and Air Force pilots wanted to fly over the cemetery.

“The veterans are anxious to show their respects,” he said, noting people kept reaching out wanting to somehow honor those lost.

The Germantown Police Department also did a gun salute and a bagpiper played during the short program.

Down the hill, Carlos Kelly was visiting the grave of Sherman Kelly, his grandfather who was a cook in the Navy.

“It’s an honor and blessing as I look at all these tombstones, that people gave their life for this country,” he said.

Rebecca Alston visited her father’s grave with her young children, Kennedy and Lincoln. He served in the Navy and in Vietnam. He returned home, but later died of cancer.

“I make it a point to come every single year,” she said. “It’s important but also to instill respect in our kids.”

Before they left her father’s grave, Kennedy asked her mother to pray, and they thanked God for the ultimate sacrifice so many made.