Remembering the Fallen: Montgomery's VA Center Hosts Memorial Day Services

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By Heather VacLav

Story Created: May 28, 2012 at 8:21 PM CDT

Story Updated: May 28, 2012 at 11:22 PM CDT

For many people Memorial Day is an extra day off and time to spend with friends and family, but some local veterans say too many people are forgetting the true meaning behind the holiday.

 

The Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System hosted its annual Memorial Day services at Montgomery’s VA Center to remind people about the origin of Memorial Day.

 

About 100 Veterans, families and friends gathered outside the VA Center to remember the men and women who died in military service. Some veterans say in many ways the American flag is treated the same as Memorial Day, it’s taken for granted.

 

“Red, white and blue, it just makes chills run up and down your spine when you see it flying,” said William “Sky” King, a retired member of the Air National Guard.

 

"Sky," as his friends call him, was honored to walk the wreath during the wreath ceremony and place it under Old Glory. It was part of the National Moment of Remembrance, a time set aside to honor Memorial Day across the nation at 3:00 p.m. King has been serving the public for more than 40 years, serving his country as an Air National Guardsmen, and as a police officer in both Birmingham and Montgomery.

 

“The deepest thing to me is the ones that gave it all, those are the ones that can’t be here today so we're here for them,” King said.

 

“This is the least we can do for those who have fallen,” said Edgar L. Smith III, a Vietnam veteran. “Any of us who have been on the frontlines know many families who have lost love ones, there was nothing we could do to help it, so we're here for them today.”

 

Smith says his comrades fought for the ability to watch America's flag wave in our country. “We're thankful to be alive, thankful for freedoms we have and we will do anything to protect those freedoms that previous soldiers have fought for and died for,” Smith said.

 

While the seasoned veterans like King and Smith say they will continue to honor the fallen, they say it's the younger men and women that will keep America free.

 

“Military has been in my blood, I'm a third generation guy,” said Marion Brock III of Montgomery, a retired Military Policeman and Instructor. “My grandfather was a WWI veteran, uncle WWII, my dad Vietnam, myself operation enduring freedom and my son wants to go in so it's a great feeling,” Brock III said.

 

Standing alongside his father, Marion Brock IV says he wants to continuing passing family torch to serve the country.

 

“All the men in my family have been serving, it feels great and I want to continue that tradition,” Brock IV said.

 

There were more than 30 veterans at the VA's Memorial Day service. Men and women stood up to represent Operation Enduring Freedom, the Vietnam War, the Korean War and World War II.

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