Memorial Day Service In Highland This Saturday
Memorial Day weekend is approaching, and for many, it conjures thoughts of a three day weekend, outdoor barbecues, and travel to visit friends and family. All too often, these activities can overshadow the meaning behind the holiday, which is to honor those who have given their life in the armed services protecting our freedoms.
This Saturday in Highland County, a Memorial Day Service will be held at the Veteran’s Memorial on the courthouse lawn in Monterey.The Memorial is a brick walkway, featuring engraved names of service members, leading to a wall with plaques honoring the four branches of the military.
These services are held on a rotating basis by the five county civic organizations – four Ruritan Clubs and the Monterey Lions Club. Veteran Richard Waybright of Monterey spoke.about the service.
“On the 23rd, this Saturday coming, Stonewall Ruritans is in charge of this year’s service at the Memorial. We will be having Senator Creigh Deeds will we the speaker – the band will be playing – they’ll be laying of the wreath. The event will be starting at 12 noon, probably in the neighborhood of about a half an hour to 40 minutes at the most. So we’s love for everybody to come out, because it’s such a great honor to honor our people that has given their lives to why we’re in such a free world today.”
Services are also held at the same location on Veteran’s Day in the fall. Mr. Waybright talked about the creation of the Memorial.
“It was probably in 2006, I would say, we started thinking about it, and was thinking basically of just having a little monument, and maybe a bench there to sit on. So we got someone out of each civic group to be part of it, and the longer we started working on it, the bigger it got. And as we continued to put it together, Mr. Rexrode got involved with us, and it turned out to be a terrific thing.
“We have people that come up there many times and sit. And the way we do these bricks, we don’t put no rank, it’s strictly just your name, your branch of service, and your years you were in. Right now, we have a little over 800 names on it.”
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