By By Lee (Lavan) Martin
Special to The Advance
Memorial Day is a sacred day to all veterans. Although traditionally observed on May 30, it is observed worldwide this year on Monday, May 26th, the date on which Atmore veterans will commemorate the day with a short parade beginning at 10:30 a.m. and concluding with a brief but effective ceremony at City Hall at 11 a.m.
Parade participants are asked to gather at 10 a.m. on Church Street adjacent to the American Legion Building at the comer of Main and Church Streets. The parade will proceed from the American Legion Building to City Hall where veterans will pay tribute to the deaths of their fellow countrymen and women who paid the supreme sacrifice for all Americans.
On Saturday, May 24 , proceeding Memorial Day on Monday, May 26 , Atmore veterans, assisted by the Boy and Girl Scouts, will gather at the American Legion Building at 8 a.m. to collect gravemarker flags and then travel to area cemeteries to place flags on the graves of fallen comrades. Flags will remain on the graves until collected and returned to the American Legton Building at 5 p.m. on Monday, May 26'.
All of this would not be possible without the help of the JROTC Units from both Northview and Escambia County High School, the Boy and Girl Scouts, Atmore Mayor Howard Shell, and Atmore City Public Workers, and, of course, our favorite vocalist, Lana Langford.
When we honor our nation's war dead, we preserve their memory and thus their service and sacrifice. Atmore citizens are asked to fly their American Flags over the Memorial Day Weekend, and especially on Monday when they should be flown at half-staff during the morning hours and raised to full-staff at noon.
Hopefully, the citizens of Atmore will join the many people around the world and stand united on this Memorial Day with admiration and respect to give thanks to America's war dead who fought and sacrificed their lives for the freedoms we all enjoy today. Let us stand united in our grief, holding in memory and celebrating the courage and deeds of all veterans who have served our great nation.
Lee (Lavan) Martin is commander of the Atmore Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7016.