NORTH LITTLE ROCK — Veterans and active members of the military, area officials and family and friends of veterans honored fallen soldiers Monday morning.
Hundreds of attendees, including Gov. Mike Beebe, paid tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of the United States at the annual service at the Arkansas Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock.
Beebe challenged Arkansans who see servicemen and women in uniform to acknowledge them.
“When you see a serviceman or woman in uniform, thank them for their service,” he said. “It only takes a minute. If they’re going to defend us, the least we can do is love, honor, support and respect them when they come home.”
Beebe said scholarship funds for the children of fallen soldiers are important because “these children experience the loss the longest.”
The service included a ceremonial dinner table setting with five stations to honor the fallen servicemen and women from five branches of the armed forces — Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard — which were set by an honorary guard. A memorandum was also given to honor those lost in service at sea this year with the tolling of the two bells by Jack Harrell, former president of the Fleet Reserve Association, South Central Region.
Senator Mark Pryor also led the Pledge of Allegiance to open the ceremony.
Near the conclusion of the service, the 106th Arkansas Army Band performed Taps, as well as Company 3/23 of the United States Marine Corps executing a 21-gun salute at the end of the 45-minute service.
Read more about this story in Tuesday’s Arkansas Democrat Gazette.