It was 85 degrees and sunny, but the attendants at the All Veterans Memorial Service were blessed with a nice breeze and the tones of the hymn "Amazing Grace" as they honored veterans outside the Marshall County Courthouse on Monday.
Bob Blazer, a member of the Sons of the American Legion in Moundsville, said this year's service focused on honoring Vietnam veterans and the ceremony next year will recognize current military.
"I'm just honored to do this," Blazer said. "It is one way for non-veterans to give veterans a thank you. How else could a guy not from the military honor our veterans?"
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Photo by Sarah Harmon
The Moundsville Veterans Honor Guard offers a 21-gun salute to honor all deceased veterans at the All Veterans Memorial service in Moundsville on Monday.
The Sons of the American Legion gave all the Vietnam veterans at the ceremony memorial pins, which were presented by members of Boy Scout Troop 78. The service remembered POWs and MIAs with an empty chair ceremony with Jim Robinson, veteran and former prisoner of war of the Iraq War, presenting. The Cub Scouts offered thanks with a presentation titled "Those Who Dared to Fight."
The Moundsville Veterans Honor Guard gave a 21-gun salute and Taps marked the end of the service to honor all deceased veterans.
"Our main objective is to give all our veterans the respect of their last rites," Tom Norris, president of the Moundsville Veterans Honor Guard, said. "The funeral services are a great thing for our veterans."
Blazer said that he hopes to see more non-veterans come to the service next year to give thanks to those who have served America.
