Community remembers veterans

Kenneth Morgan, US Army Vietnam veteran, places a wreath during the Memorial Day ceremony held in Etowah Monday. (Tribune photo / Marissa Holiman)

Community members gathered Monday morning at Garden Point Cemetery in Etowah for a special Memorial Day service. Rev. Huey and Diane Meherg started the pre-program music by singing Amazing Grace. The Rivercrest High School ROTC and Major John C. Northcutt followed by raising the flag, which was a very emotional time for many.

Bo McCollum, mayor of Etowah, welcomed everyone and gave some updates on the Garden Point Cemetery.

Rev. Meherg, pastor of Etowah Pentecostal Church of God and a veteran of the U.S. Army, gave the invocation and Jimmy Pruitt, a veteran of the U.S. Army, led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance. The National Anthem was performed by David Hall, a veteran of the U.S. Navy and song leader of Etowah Baptist Church.

The ceremony also included a special laying of the wreath in remembrance of all veterans.

H.C. Bradford, a veteran of the U.S. Army during World War II, was the guest speaker this year, and Rev. Alvin McGill, a veteran of the U.S. Army, gave the Memorial Day message.

A 21-gun salute was conducted by the Etowah Police Department and the Mississippi County Sheriff Deputies. Jeremy Riney performed TAPS, and Kent Reed ended the program with the releasing of the doves.