Annual Memorial Day Program Set for Monday

WEAKLEY COUNTY (May 23) - It is an annual tradition to pay tribute to the fallen heroes of Weakley County on Memorial Day each May. The Weakley County Department of Veterans Affairs team members have been busy sprucing up the flower beds surrounding the county’s War Memorial. VA Officer Ricky Cobb, along with his assistant, Randi Storye, have also been busy planning the annual Weakley County Memorial Day program.

The event is set for Monday, May 30, from 11 a.m. until noon on the lawn of the Weakley County Courthouse. Guests are invited to bring lawn chairs, friends and family for a morning of remembering the fallen who are listed on the county’s War Memorial. To qualify for placement on the War Memorial, a person must have died in service to the country in a conflict in defense of the country; be buried in Weakley County; inducted from Weakley County; born in Weakley County and attended school in Weakley County.

Cobb will take the podium to welcome guests that day. Tony Terrell of Beech Grove Baptist Church will provide the invocation, while Kevin West is set to lead the “Pledge of Allegiance.” Special music will be led by retired Sgt. Keith Dunning. Col. Trent Scates is the guest speaker. As is tradition, Odie Leggins and Terry Casteel of the American Legion Post #55 in Martin will lay the wreath.

The following visitors are set to read the roll call of those listed on the monument from each wartime: Bill Riddle, Roy Wainscott, Steve Todd and Beth Kempton.

Servicemembers from Weakley County who died in conflict from each of the following wars are as follows: World War I (April 6, 1917 - July 1, 1921); World War II (December 7, 1941 - December 31, 1946); Korea (June 27, 1950 - January 31, 1955); Vietnam (February 28, 1961 - May 7, 1975); and Iraq (August 2, 1990 - TBD).

Retired SSgt. Howard Spires will provide “Taps,” while Terrell closes out the ceremony with the benediction.

All community members are invited to attend.