Memorial Day services were held all across the country Monday to honor those who gave their all in service to their county.

VFW Post 7055 hosted Memorial Day services in Brundidge and in Elamville. Post Commander Henry Middlebrooks said the services were times for remembrance and also times for re-commitment to country.

“On Memorial Day we remember and honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms,” Middlebrooks said in speaking to the gathering at the Veterans Memorial in Brundidge. “These honored veterans were serving their country rather than asking their country to do for them. And, on this day we should also look to ourselves. We should find ways that we can serve our country and ways to stay in service to our country. If we would dedicate ourselves to service to country, our nation would be a better place.”

Bruce Williams of Ozark joined the Air Corps in 1947 because he wanted to serve. Now, he seeks out services that honor the memories of those who didn’t come home.

“I am here to stand for those who stood for us,” he said.

SFC Mike Jerrell, United States Army (ret.) was the guest speaker at the Memorial Day service at Elam Cemetery.

“Today is a solemn occasion,” Jerrell said. “We are here to honor the memory of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of their country. And, there are many: World War I, 116,516; World War II, 405,399; Korea, 36,516; Vietnam, 58,209; Persian Gulf, 258; Afghanistan, 2,034 and counting; and Iraq, 4,800 and counting. We must never forget those who gave their all. That is why we are here today – to remember those who gave their all and to honor them in the best way we can.”

Jerrell closed with a quote from Charles M. Province, “It is the soldier, not the minister who has given us freedom of religion. It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to protest. It is the soldier, not the lawyer, who had given us the right to a fair trail. It is the soldier, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag and whose coffin is draped by the flag.”

“It is the soldier that we honor here today,” he said.

Middlebrooks reminded those in attendance to stay in service to their country and always stand up and be proud to be an American.