Somber ceremony recalls those who served

Comedic and music performances are the norm in the Center for Performing Arts in Walhalla.  Yesterday, at holiday time, the auditorium hosted the Oconee Veterans Council Memorial Day ceremony to remember all who served, especially those who gave their lives.  From the back of the stage, a replica of the county’s memorial to its  210 servicemen who died in service faced the audience.  The actual memorial has a permanent place in front of the courthouse on Main Street at Tugaloo.  Three of those casualties rated special mention by the keynote speaker.  Closing the ceremony Jerry Dyar, public information officer for the Veterans Council, requested relatives and friends of the war dead to stand and be recognized.  Several audience members stood and were applauded.  At the front of the stage, a colorful wreath.  A member of the West-Oak High JROTC, Caitlyn Collopy, sang the national anthem.  Before his career as a public officeholder, State Representative Bill Whitmire taught history to public school children.  He recalled his disappointment at the realization that younger generations lacked knowledge of the country’s war past, so he decided to take a different track to inform them.  Teacher Whitmire personalized the stories of three local servicemen he either knew or was acquainted with.  All three lost their lives in Vietnam:  Austin Edwards, Willie Johnson, and Thomas “Scotty” Holmes.