Wesson Garden Club (WGC) and American Legion Drane-Prine Post 79 members honored and remembered armed forces veterans in two special wreath-laying ceremonies on the eve of Memorial Day.
Garden Club members joined Legionnaires and Auxiliary members in front of Wesson Legion Hall for a Legion Memorial Day ceremony at which World War II veteran Alton Ricks and Auxiliary member Melnee Frazier placed at memorial wreath at the Post’s outdoor flag pole to remember POW/MIAs and fallen war veterans.
Following the Legion ceremony, guests, veterans and city officials joined Wesson Legionnaires and Garden Club members at the Blue Star Memorial on the east side of Highway 51 at Church Street for a second wreath laying ceremony led by the Garden Club. Legion Post Commander Bobby Thornton, Auxiliary member Kim Whittington and WGC President Dixie Thornton placed the memorial wreath at the Blue Star Marker.
At the Legion ceremony, Commander Thornton noted people will place flags at the graves of fallen armed forces heroes, and urged them to say the veterans’ names out loud and a prayer in remembrance of that brave soul.
The Memorial Day holiday is “a powerful reminder of the high cost of freedom that millions of Americans have paid since our country was founded,” Thornton said. “It’s a sacred opportunity to honor the sacrifices of our sons and daughters who didn’t make it home. “As we celebrate their legacy, let’s continue to keep their memories alive and marvel at their shared fundamental qualities. They embodied courage, pride, determination, selflessness, dedication to duty and great personal integrity – all the values needed to serve a cause larger than themselves.”
WGC President Dixie Thornton said National Garden Clubs Inc. started the Blue Star Highway marker program to honor veterans in 1945. “Our Blue Star Highway marker, placed by the Wesson Garden Club, stands proudly on this corner of our town reminding all who pass of the bravery and sacrifice of the men and women who serve and have served in the United States Armed Forces defending our great nation,” she said.
At the marker with the wreath-laying, WGC members and veterans lead a ceremony of remembrance celebrating “the many brave men and women who gave their all to our country,” “the price of freedom and the many soldiers, airmen, marines and sailors whose lives were lost to protect it” and “the families who lost a loved one in service to our country.”
Wesson Garden Club is a member of The Garden Clubs of Mississippi Inc, National Garden Clubs Inc., Deep South Garden Clubs Inc., and Natchez Trace District Garden Clubs of Mississippi.