A freshly placed floral wreath beneath an American flag before rows of uniform white tombstones serving as a backdrop, Jimmy Ray addressed the solemn onlookers gathered beneath oaks and hanging moss Monday morning at Bonaventure Cemetery.
“Today we’re honoring our dead,” said Ray, who served in the Marines. “We’re not honoring grocery store sales. We’re not honoring furniture store sales, clothing store sales or car sales. We’re honoring our dead — those that passed away serving this country.”
The guest speaker and this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade grand marshal told the crowd at the yearly ceremony that the sacrifices of military service members made events like Monday’s possible.
“Everybody that’s in the military today volunteered to serve their country, and they’re serving their country well,” Ray said. “And we’re proud of them.”
The ceremony, put on annually by local American Legion posts, drew about 150 people and featured a changing of the colors and the presentation of a new flag, the laying of a wreath, service branch anthems and a salute with arms by the Savannah-Chatham police department’s honor guard.
Retired Air Force Master Sgt. Jim Vaughan, named the county veteran of the year in 2012, helped place the wreath beneath the flagpole in the cemetery’s American Legion field during the ceremony.
Vaughan, who spent more than 20 years in uniform over a split tour, said it was uplifting that so many people came out for the ceremony.
“It’s outstanding,” the 77-year-old Vietnam War veteran said. “It shows that a lot of people care, and that in itself is quite an honor for us — for the veterans — to see this many people show up.”
Observances on Memorial Day also mean a lot to Jim A. McNear, a former Marine staff sergeant who served in World War II and Korea.
“It gets to my heart, I tell you,” he said.
McNear, who is a member of American Legion Post 184 and the Marine Corps League, was, like Vaughan, impressed by the crowd.
“This is an exceptionally good turnout,” McNear said. “I’ve been here for the last several years, and I think this is one of the better turnouts that we’ve had.”
This year’s ceremony was put on by American Legion Post 154 of Tybee Island.
After the ceremony, that post’s commander, 57-year-old Navy veteran Chuck Bolen, said he was pleased with the recognition shown for service members on Monday and mentioned a simple gesture that goes a long way any time.
“Just shake a veteran’s hand,” Bolen said. “They appreciate it.”
ON THE WEB
Go to savannahnow.com to watch video from Monday’s Memorial Day Ceremony at Bonaventure Cemetery.