On May 30th, Fannin County, like thousands of other communities across the United States, held memorial ceremonies for Americans who gave their lives in service to their county.    The memorial, held at the Veterans’ Park began at 11 am and ended at noon.

Elaine Owen, editor of the Fannin Sentinel, gave the keynote speech at the Fannin County Memorial Day remembrance ceremony.  Ms. Owen spoke about the meaning of Memorial Day.  Memorial Day  is to remember the 1.3 million soldiers who died while serving their country in all wars from 1776 to today’s actions in the Middle East.  Memorial Day is not the “first day of summer” nor a day for beer and barbecue, but a day to honor soldiers’ service and remember what it means to be an American and be free.   A goal of veterans should be to educate Americans that Memorial Day is not just another holiday or a celebration of military might; it is a day to honor those who died.  She also spoke about one of her friends, “Rocky” Paxton who died in Vietnam.  His plane was shot down.  Mr. Paxton and another soldier were unhurt; the third person was severely hurt.  After encountering heavy gunfire, Mr. Paxton decided to stay behind with his wounded friend rather than being immediately evacuated from the fight zone.  Mr. Paxton died while waiting with his friend for another chopper to return and evacuate them.

Ms. Owen’s military career was in the Air Force.  When she started in Officers Candidate School, she was one of 6 women is a class of 60 men.  She said that at that time, the Air Force really didn’t know what to do with women who had joined its ranks, so the Air Force sent women through various schools.  Ms. Owen decided to join the Air Force to help pay for her education.  “I went in for the wrong reasons and came out with the right reasons.  It was a profound experience,” says Ms. Owen.

Cindy Gorton received an award for volunteer service.  Ms. Gorton is the Chapter Service Officer for disabled American veterans.  One of the outreach services she organizes is a monthly ice cream social at Pruitt Nursing Home.  Blue Ridge’s Dairy Queen provides the ice cream which she passes out at the nursing home.  The VFW does the same for Lifecare nursing home.  Ms. Gorton served in communications in the Army.  She was stationed in Germany, Texas and Florida.

Every year Boy Scout Troop 32 out of Epworth assists Fannin’ veterans with Memorial Day and Veterans’ Day Ceremonies.  On the Friday before Memorial day, troop members place flags on the graves of veterans buried in Crestlawn cemetery in McCaysville.  On Memorial Day, the scouts assist with setting up equipment and chairs for the memorial ceremony.  Troop 32 assists with veteran’s events so the Scouts learn to honor service members.  Pictured here are Troop leaders David Lewis, Nick Wimberly, Bob Sisson along with Troop 32 members David, Daniel, Colby and Andrew with Joshua and Gavin, friends of Troop 32.

Sgt. First Class Marty Robles attended the memorial with his granddaughters.  He served in the 12th Special Forces as a radio operator.  Mr. Robles was also in nursing.  A few of his tour of duty locations were Vietnam, Korea and Alaska.  At his station in Alaska, he could see Russia, which was just 20 miles away, at the very edge of the horizon.  He describes his position with the Special Forces as a quiet professional doing my mission.