Memorial Day on Monday brought out men and women across the nation to remember soldiers old and young that served in the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, or Coast Guard and gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives for the sake of their country, and this tradition wasn’t any different in Pickens County.
A ceremony was held at Sunrise Memorial Gardens in Jasper at 10:00 a.m. on Monday morning to honor those who served, and those who attended were taken aback by the emotion of the tributes and the 55 crosses surrounding the area, one for each of the local men and women that have been lost in combat.

Several of the people in attendance played a role in the ceremony, including Vice Commandment Ken Meyer of Marine Corps League #1280, who served as the master of the ceremony, Reverend Gerald Faulkner of Marine Corps League #1280, who led the crowd in prayer, Pickens County Commissioner Robert Jones, who welcomed everyone following the prayer, Maggie Miller of Mount Zion Baptist Church, who sang the national anthem, and retired U.S. Army general Joseph William Camp, Jr., who was the speaker for the morning’s events.

Following General Camp’s speech was the presentation of wreaths by the Young Marines and then a 21 gun salute by the D.A.V. Honor Guard. Pat Gallagher then preformed “Taps”, leaving each and every person in attendance with a solemn reminder of what Memorial Day is really all about.