UPDATED for print edition — As thousands of soldiers and civilians worldwide continue to put their lives in harm’s way, Peachtree City residents took time Monday to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
More than a thousand people attended the annual ceremony at the city’s Veterans Memorial just outside City Hall.
And though his remarks were brief, the crowd felt the impact of World War II and Pearl Harbor survivor Roy Mooney, the featured guest speaker.
Mooney, an Army infantryman, enlisted at 17 and was stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii but was off duty on Dec. 7, 1941 when the Japanese fleet struck the military installations on Hawaii.
The day off may have spared Mooney’s life, as some 250 infantry soldiers were killed in the area he normally patrolled while on duty.
Mooney, 88, reminded the crowd of what he called one of the best-kept secrets in Georgia: a memorial in the Marietta National Cemetery designed specifically to honor the survivors of Pearl Harbor.
The memorial in Marietta “is dedicated to all those living, and all those dead, who were survivors of Pearl Harbor,” Mooney said.
“It’s very close to my heart,” he said, his voice breaking up with emotion as he recalled attending a Memorial Day service there Sunday.
“It was very touching,” Mooney said.
Mooney closed his speech by urging all Americans to “be ready.”
“We face more danger from the world than we did in 1940, is the way I see it,” Mooney said. “I think most of the people do realize that.”
Father David Epps, the master of ceremonies, reminded the crowd of a grim statistic: that more than 6,000 men and women have been killed in action in the ongoing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. And those wars continue, so the casualties will climb.
And while every day for so many people those sacrifices go unnoticed, those in attendance Monday certainly remember, and most will never forget, those who laid down their lives for the United States of America.
A crowd that organizers felt was their largest ever assembled in the Fayetteville City Cemetery to hear speakers state Senator Ronnie Chance, state Representative Matt Ramsey and U.S. Congressman Lynn Westmoreland at American Legion Post 105’s ceremony.
“Today is a somber occasion and one of remembrance,” Chance said. “It is important to remember the sacrifices our soldiers made but to also keep in mind our present and future.”
Ramsey remarked on the large turnout. “It’s important that we come together as a community and remember that every freedom we enjoy is because of the sacrifice of the 1.4 million Americans who have died serving this nation. Words are inadequate to say thank you to the degree that we should.”
Westmoreland read from a speech written by a veteran on his staff which stated that veterans represent the best of our nation. One part of the speech noted that when told they are heroes, most veterans will deny it and point the praise towards their comrades. “I am around heroes today,” Westmoreland said. “Thank you for your service.” — Also reported by Michael Boylan.
