Abigndon hosts the annual Memorial Day ceremony

ABINGDON, Va. — The community gathered Monday at Abingdon Veterans Memorial Park to honor and remember those who have sacrificed and served in the United States Armed Forces.

“Memorial Day is our way of honoring those members of the military who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Jon L. Bradley III, who served as master of ceremonies for this year’s event.

“These heroes gave their lives to secure the freedoms we enjoy here today. The freedoms we take for granted every day,” Bradley said.

During the Memorial Day ceremony, David Doan, a Revolutionary War re-enactor and president of the Overmountain Victory Trail Association, recounted the Battle of Point Pleasant by telling the story of Samuel Vance Jr., who fought the Indians as part of Virginia. Militia in 1780.

Retired U.S. Navy SEAL Joe Straten reminisced about his 20-year friendship with the late Max Hugo Hermann, a U.S. Air Force officer and owner of The Tavern in Abingdon, Va., who died April 30.

“Max came to this country as a 19-year-old from Germany in 1970,” Straten said. “In 1973, he joined the US Air Force. Finally, after a 20-year career, he arrived here in Abingdon and finally began his life’s work of owning a restaurant.”

“Everyone who knew Max knew him as a very friendly person with a big smile and a warm welcome when they walked through the doors of the Tavern,” added Straten. “Max was proud to be a veteran. He was proud to live in America. He was a patriot, first and foremost.”

During the ceremony, the Veterans Memorial Park Foundation of Abingdon and Washington County, Va., joined veterans’ families in dedicating six new trees.

The first tree, an American elm from the Prairie Expedition, was dedicated in memory of Cameron Craig, a 20-year-old firefighter with the Abingdon, Va., Fire Department who died in the line of duty last year.

A Mirlo Red Bud tree was dedicated in memory of US Army Lt. Col. Bill Rhea Starnes, and a Texas White Red Bud tree was planted in memory of US Air Force Airman 2nd Class Riley Clark.

Lt. Col. Jeffrey George Edwards of the U.S. Marine Corps and Lt. William Windsor Woodard, who was present at the ceremony, were honored with a southern red oak and an Osage orange, respectively.

US Army Major Samuel Hughes Melton was honored with a sugar maple.

US Army Captain Howard Chowning McElroy was also honored with a tree during the ceremony.