Memorial Day program held at Doughboy Monument in Meridian

MERIDIAN, Miss. - A day of remembrance as locals attend the 2021 Memorial Day program. The program was held at Doughboy Monument in downtown Meridian. There was a role call of all the men from Lauderdale County-from the first to die in World War I to most recent casualty in Operation Iraqi Freedom-were read in a tribute.

Veteran Virgil B. Cole says remembering his friends while in service is one thing he’ll never forget.

“You miss a lot of members--people that died over there and particularly a young man Willie Wilson," said Cole. "I played football with him and after all these years I still remember his name and it always sends a chill down my spine.”

As the saying goes--all gave some and some gave all--Veteran Martin McCann says Memorial Day is not about them (veterans), but those who never returned home.

“Some people call us heroes, but I’m not a hero. I served with heroes," said McCann. "The heroes are the guys that didn’t come back.”

There was a laying of the wreaths and the twenty-one gun salute by the Meridian Police Department Honor Guard.

“In the military and war, you form a bond with people and when one member falls out, they are truly missed and you never forget about them," said Cole.