Memorial Day services were held throughout the country on Monday, May 25, to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to preserve the freedoms that we share today in this great country.

We pay them the respect they deserve, while we remember with broken heart those who paid the price and never returned home to their loved ones and families.

Right here in our immediate area we gathered together in different locations to thank those who bravely gave their lives so future generations can continue to live in freedom in a land that so many enjoy.

New Martinsville American Legion Marne Post 28 Led By Matt Bland provided the traditional gun salute and laying of the wreath at Greenlawn Cemetery. All veterans’ graves had flags posted to their resting places. Several people showed up to pay their respects and honor our fallen heroes.

The event concluded at the Wetzel County Wall of Honor on Main Street next to the American Legion with a brief service, a prayer, and the Honor Guard again giving the gun salute.

The Wall of Honor was recently restored and now contains the names of Wetzel County Veterans listed in alphabetical order.

God Bless every military person past and present and may God continue to bless us as a nation. Several people showed up to pay their respects and honor our fallen heroes.

Memorial Day is a National Holiday on the civil calendar for remembering and honoring those who have given their lives in battle. The day is also known as Decoration Day for the custom of placing flags at the graves of the patriotic dead. Without legitimizing war, there is resonance with the gospel reading: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”