Residents lined the streets and square in Mount Gilead Monday afternoon to watch the Memorial Day parade and follow the band and Boy Scouts up the hill to Rivercliff Cemetery.

Pastor Jeff Canankamp of Trinity United Methodist Church in Mount Gilead opened the program with prayer. Boy Scouts from Troop 56 placed flowers at the monument. They had also put flags on the graves of veterans around the cemetery.

Tim Sharrock welcomed the crowd, led the Pledge of Allegiance and introduced the speaker, Kenneth Davies. Davies is a 1985 graduate of West Point Military Academy. He served in the U.S. Army 24th ID, Corps of Engineers and as Captain Airborne, Air Assault from 1985-1992. He is currently Director at WESCO Integrated Supply. He is married to Patricia Davies, a 1986 graduate of West Point, now Morrow County Auditor.

Davies spoke with feeling of his motivation to join the military that was due to the service of his grandfather, Ken a World War II veteran and and two uncles who served in Vietnam. His uncle Robert lost his life in Vietnam and another uncle served in intelligence and had many stories to tell.

Davies asked the crowd to remember the parents and families who most feel the loss of their loved ones. He said our country has lost over one million men and women veterans since the Revolutionary War. Davies closed saying that it is prayer that we would all take a moment on Memorial Day to remember the fallen who protected our freedoms.

The program closed with a Roll Call of the fallen read by Pastor Canankamp, followed by the Rifle Salute with the Color Guard commanded by Daniel L. Fricke. Taps, played by Mount Gilead band members echoed across the cemetery.

Alberta Stojkovic | The Sentinel

Color Guard and Firing Squad commanded by Daniel L. Fricke led the parade.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2017/05/web1_shootin-1.jpgAlberta Stojkovic | The Sentinel

Color Guard and Firing Squad commanded by Daniel L. Fricke led the parade.

Alberta Stojkovic | The Sentinel

Boy Scouts from Troop 56 lay flowers at the monument for the Grand Army of the Republic.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2017/05/web1_DSC_0256-2-1-1-1.jpgAlberta Stojkovic | The Sentinel

Boy Scouts from Troop 56 lay flowers at the monument for the Grand Army of the Republic.

Alberta Stojkovic | The Sentinel

Tim Sharrock welcomes the crowd to the Mount Gilead Memorial Day Program while speaker, Kenneth Davies and Pastor Jeff Canankamp listen.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2017/05/web1_DSC_0254-2-1-1-1.jpgAlberta Stojkovic | The Sentinel

Tim Sharrock welcomes the crowd to the Mount Gilead Memorial Day Program while speaker, Kenneth Davies and Pastor Jeff Canankamp listen.

Alberta Stojkovic | The Sentinel

The Fire House Dalmatian had the best view in the parade. Here with Bruce Young of the Mount Gilead Fire Department.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2017/05/web1_wags.jpgAlberta Stojkovic | The Sentinel

The Fire House Dalmatian had the best view in the parade. Here with Bruce Young of the Mount Gilead Fire Department.

By Alberta Stojkovic

The Sentinel

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