CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) The William O. Beach Civic Hall was filled Monday for the annual Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Ceremony to honor those military service members who answered the call of duty and paid the ultimate price.
The event is hosted each year by the Clarksville-Montgomery County Veterans Service Organization (VSO). VSO Director Frank Mir said he was pleased to see the large crowd at the civic hall. “It is great to see so many members of our community here to pay tribute to the brave men and women who volunteer, putting their lives on the line defending this great nation,” said Mir.
Guest speaker for the ceremony was retired U.S. Air Force Major Bill Summers who said, today we gather again to remember those who have died in service and defense of our great country. Summers also said as we remember the fallen, not all who have died in the military in the service and the defense of our country lost their lives on the battlefield.
“Many lost their lives in the preparation to defend our great country. Training and practice of war are just as deadly as combat itself,” Summers said. He mentioned recent incidents involving military personnel who have lost their lives due to accidents in training missions as well as those who have suffered and taken their own lives after the battle.
Summers read actual last letters home by some who have fallen in service to the nation. The letters covered the Civil War, WWI, WWII, Vietnam and Iraq as they talked about duty, honor, country and family.
A number of wreaths were presented at the ceremony to honor the memory of the fallen men and women of the military. Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett and Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan were joined by Bill Summers to present the VSO wreath..
Wreaths were also placed by other local veteran service organizations. The Military Order of the Purple Heart Screaming Eagle Chapter 457, Women Veterans of America Chapter 47, The Military Officers Association of America Fort Campbell Chapter, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4895 and Auxiliary, Gold Star Wives Tuckasee Chapter.
Marine Corps League Detachment 603, Disable American Veterans Hardy-Shelby Chapter 45, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 101, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 396, American Legion Post 143, and Triple Nickle 555 Elester Garner Chapter.