The 3rd Annual Memorial Day Ceremony was another solemn occasion showing the respect given to those over 1.2 million Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice serving in our nation’s military since June 14, 1775, when the Continental Army was first formed.
The 30-minute ceremony honored their sacrifice with a crowd of about 100 on hand to commemorate those brave American citizens who fought and died for our freedom. The ceremony included a combination of local veterans and veteran organizations in the surrounding area. The participants were from Mint Hill American Legion Post 555, Marine Corp League, Charlotte, NC, Detachment 750, and VFW Post 4059.
The program opened with Legionnaire, John Ellis, USAF with a bugle call to assembly. USMC veteran and Post 555 Chaplain conducted the invocation and benediction. Local US Army veterans Rene Selva, and Lee Martin performed the POW/MIA Empty Chair and Missing Man Table Setting Ceremony, also known as the Fallen Comrade Table. Selva also performed the Wreath Laying Ceremony. Pastor, Jeffrey Andler sang “God Bless America.” Marine Corp League, Detachment 750 rifle team performed the three-round volley and Kellis White, USMC played taps. Furthermore, the AFJROTC Cadets from Independence High School participated as the color guard, led the “Pledge of Allegiance”, and Lieutenant Colonel, Jeffrey Jenkins, USAF, retired, provided the keynote presentation the “Meaning of Memorial Day.” Also, a special shout out to the Mint Hill Fire Department who brought their ladder truck and displayed “Old Glory” well above the grounds at Mint Hill Veterans Memorial Park for all to recognize and appreciate what our nation’s flag stands for in the world.
The event was originally planned for Saturday, May 27th, however, due to the inclement weather forecast this past weekend and heavy rain it was rescheduled for Monday, Memorial Day. It was not a perfect sunny day for the ceremony held under overcast skies, but the event was certainly appropriate in honoring the fallen.
