Local Memorial Day activities continued Saturday with a pair of remembrance services honoring Owensboro’s fallen soldiers. In addition to a ceremony at Greenwood Cemetery, Glenn Family Services hosted their 25th annual “Day of Remembrance” at Owensboro Memorial Gardens.
The day began at Greenwood Cemetery, where they honored the nearly 108 veterans buried there.
Wesley Acton said that the cemetery had been full of members of the community preparing to pay their respects.
“We, and indeed the entire nation do owe much [to the soldiers],” Acton said.
Judge-Executive Al Mattingly, a U.S. Army veteran, said even during divisive times he continues to have pride in the country and feel safe because of those currently serving.
“It’s because of those folks who went before us because they believe in this country. They believed in our way of life, even with all the things that were wrong and are wrong and will continue to be wrong,” Mattingly said.
At Owensboro Memorial Gardens, President of Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory Glenn Taylor said the 25-year-old tradition started because they wanted to have a way to commemorate all 5 branches of the military and their ties with the community at once.
A National Guard veteran himself, Taylor said the holiday is wonderful but should always be remembered for its purpose of commemorating those soldiers.
“Everybody from different backgrounds, different beliefs come together at one time and recognize the services that have been delivered to our country by people who did it by choice,” Taylor said.
The holiday is also especially meaningful to Taylor because his family consists of a long line of military veterans dating to the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War.
“It’s a wonderful holiday, and most people know it is, but it’s a holiday with a purpose,” he said. “It is a purpose for us communally to recognize the contributions and the sacrifices that have been made by veterans.”
The VFW also performed Taps and a 21-gun salute at both ceremonies.
