The Summerville Journal Scene - Summerville Honors the Fallen
News Article
By Leslie Cantu
We must live with the integrity, strength and character of those who gave everything and cannot enjoy the fruits of their sacrifice, speakers said at Summerville's annual Memorial Day ceremony.
U.S. Sen. Tim Scott asked those who had lost loved ones in conflict to raise their hands, and urged everyone in attendance to note those individuals and thank them after the ceremony.
More than a million people in our nation's history have given their lives for freedom -- a rather intangible cause, Scott said, until you see freedom in people's faces and smiles.
On Memorial Day, he said, we honor those "willing to leave all they love and go places they never dreamed of, going to make sure -- in this land, on our soil -- we get to experience a freedom we didn't buy."
State Sen. Sean Bennett spoke of his grandfather, an immigrant who didn't speak English until the second grade, who in 1941 ignored his father's urging to enroll in college and instead enlisted in the Navy.
He spoke also of a recent funeral he attended at Arlington National Cemetery. Only as he started driving through the cemetery, he said, as he drove past row after row after row of gleaming white headstones, did he come to truly appreciate what that place meant.
Col. John Lamontagne, commander of the 437th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Charleston, spoke also.
He noted that the local American Legion Post in Summerville is named for Clarence Dunning, the only Summervillian killed in World War I.
He noted also that the majority of today's airmen entered service after Sept. 11, 2001, and have never known a peacetime military.
Summerville's annual Memorial Day ceremony is hosted by American Legion Post 21, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 17, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3433, United States Submarines Veterans Inc., Veterans Affairs Officer Dorchester County, Knights of Columbus Assembly 1900, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3433 Auxiliary, the Scottish American Military Society Post 1860 and Summerville Elks Lodge 2719.
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