Area residents will have opportunities to attend Memorial Day Services at three locations on Monday.
The mid-morning service will be hosted by Brundidge VFW Post 7055 at 9 a.m. at the Tupper Lightfoot Memorial Library in downtown Brundidge.
“This is a short but meaningful Memorial Day Service,” said Freddie Turner Post quartermaster. “We’ll honor our flag, lay a wreath at the Veterans Memorial there on the library grounds and have prayer. This is an opportunity for people to come together to honor the men and women who died in service to our country and then spend time with their families.”
Memorial Day Services will be held at 11 a.m. at Bicentennial Park in Troy and at Elam Cemetery in Elamville. The service at Bicentennial Park will be hosted by American Legion Post 70 in Troy. VFW Post 7055 will host the service at Elam Cemetery.
Bob McLendon, Post 70 commander, said Memorial Day services are special because they honor those who died in service to their country.
“On Veterans Days, we honor all of those who have served but Memorial Day is a more solemn occasion,” McLendon said. “At this service, we will read the names of all Pike Countians who died from combat wounds from World War I through Iraqi Freedom.”
Bill Myrick, a Vietnam veteran and a longtime Veterans Affairs Service Officer, will be the featured speaker.
Each year, Post 70 invites a veteran from a different war era to speak.
McLendon owns Conecuh River Depot Military Museum and will have memorabilia from the Vietnam War period on display.
The American Legion Post 70 Auxiliary will add names to the Memorial Wall at Bicentennial Park and also place a memorial wreath at the site.
Also at an 11 a.m. service, VFW Post 7055 will host a Memorial Day service at Elam Cemetery at Elamville.
Turner said the cemetery is of special significance in that more than 60 veterans are buried there.
“Veterans as far back as the Civil War are buried at Elam Cemetery,” Turner said. “On Memorial Day, we will honor them and all veterans who gave their lives in service to our country.”
State Sen. Billy Beasley of Barbour County will be the featured speaker at the Elam Cemetery service. Special music will also be a highlight of the service along with the laying of the memorial wreath.
“After the services, we’ll have a covered dish lunch at Elam Baptist Church,” Turner said. “Everyone is invited.”