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JAMESTOWN – Families of military members killed while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces were honored Saturday morning in Jamestown.
The Gold Star Memorial service, hosted by the Blue Star Mothers Lake Erie chapter in Chautauqua County, brought the community together at Veterans Memorial Park.
The families of twenty-two men and women were honored after their child, brother, sister or parent paid the ultimate sacrifice defending our nation.
In honor of their sacrifice, the Blue Star Mothers and Gold Star families released bio-degradable balloons in their memory. Taps, a 21-gun salute and a wreath laying also took place.
U.S. Air Force Colonel Vincent Horrigan, this year’s keynote speaker, says for a long time Memorial Day seemed at risk of just becoming another day off from work.
However, Colonel Horrigan believes now, a new awareness is rising.
“I can’t put my finger on exactly what caused this shift,” explained Colonel Horrigan. “Maybe it’s the lessons learned from Vietnam conflict, or perhaps shared experiences of seeing our young men and women fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, and watching the flag draped coffins returning home. Maybe it’s the reading of so many memorial signs located on our bridges and highways with the names of those who fought and died for our nation.”
In addition to the Gold Star Memorial Service, a parade in honor of Memorial Day will take place on Monday, starting at 10 a.m. along Lakeview Avenue in Jamestown.
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