Service, sacrifice and dedication were themes of Memorial Day services held in Bruce and Calhoun City over the Memorial Day holiday.
Armstrong
Kenneth Armstrong, speaking at the Pryor Funeral Home service during SquareFest in Calhoun City, said an American soldier’s life is an exemplification of service and sacrifice.
“If you want to know why America is known as the land of the free and the home of the brave, it is because of the service of the American soldier,” Armstrong said.
“We pause here today to reflect upon and thank God for the sacrifice of the American solider,” he said. “There are soldiers all over the world in extremely hostile and uncomfortable places to ensure that you and I have the freedom and comfort we have today. Even now, as we speak, over 4,000 Mississippi soldiers are enduring the heat and difficult times in the desert of Southwest Texas on their way to the Middle East in defense of the freedoms we enjoy.”
“Right now there is a soldier somewhere in Southeast Asia forced to watch the birth of his newborn baby over the internet because he is protecting our freedom. In other places like Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, soldiers are missing special events with their families, all given up to serve their country.”
“That flag still flies and stands for freedom because of our soldiers,” Armstrong concluded.
Spratlin
Keith Spratlin focused on sacrifice during his speech on the Calhoun City Square Monday morning.
“The freedom we enjoy today came at a high price,” Spratlin said. “You may not realize it, but our service men and women gave up two lives – the life they were living and the life they could have lived.”
“They gave their lives for something bigger than themselves,” Spratlin said. “We should never forget them.”
Spratlin quoted Abraham Lincoln when he said, “I like to see a man proud of the place where he lives, but I also like to see a man live so that the place he lives will be proud of him.”
“America is more than just land, more than a location on a map,” Spratlin said. “America is made up of people with different backgrounds, walks of life, different languages, nationalities and colors. And as diverse as we are, we are a people with the same common goal in mind. That goal is freedom.”
Wesley
Maggie Wesley, V.F.W. District Eight Commander, spoke to the gathering on the Bruce Square.
“The service men and women we honor here today came from all walks of life, but they all shared some fundamental qualities. They possessed courage, drive, determination, selflessness, dedication to duty and integrity – all qualities needed to serve a cause larger than one’s self.”
“Many didn’t ask to leave their homes to fight on distant battlefields. Many didn’t even volunteer. They didn’t go to war because they loved fighting. They went because they were called for something bigger than themselves. They were ordinary people who responded in extraordinary ways in extreme times.”