By SHERRY DIGMON
News Publisher
VFW Post 7016 and American Legion Post 90 presented their joint Memorial Day observance Monday morning at the Veterans Monument in front of Atmore City Hall.
Commanders Billy Gates, VFW, and Dave Graham, AML, welcomed all.
Guest speaker was VA Representative Gene Moore, graduate of Escambia County High School Class of 1983 and 1st Sergeant Army (Ret.).
“It’s an honor to pay homage and respect to those who served our great country and gave their all,” he said. “Today is Memorial Day, not Veterans Day. Today is not a celebration.”
The difference in the two days, of course, is Veterans Day is for the living. Memorial Day is to honor those who died in war.
Sadly, Moore said, today’s veterans are passing away at an alarming rate due to suicide. In the United States, 12 veterans commit suicide every day.
His encouragement to everyone: “Each one reach one.”
Also participating in the program were Mayor Jim Staff, soloist Lana Langford, Harold Madison and the memorial roll call team, Jim Biggs, Steve Reynolds and the fire team, Bethany Presley, VFW Chaplain Paul Harrison, and AML Chaplain Jack Wright.