Local veterans were remembered for their sacrifices Monday, along with the civilians they leave behind, at the annual Veterans’ Day service at the Troup County Government Center.
“You keep the businesses open and our families running,” said Lt. Michael Muller, commanding officer at Fort Benning, thanking civilians for their own brand of service.
“I genuinely thank you,” he said. “You free me up to fight.”
Muller said that since the United States was founded, more than 2.8 million U.S. soldiers have died or been wounded in combat.
“These men didn’t sacrifice themselves for their country or their people,” he said. “They did it to defend an idea. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. To preserve the concept of freedom, you participate just as much as those who died. You can’t quit, or the sacrifice will be for nothing.”
The annual veterans service, sponsored by the West Georgia Veterans’ Council, including the reading of names of veterans from this area who died within the last year. A bell tolled after each name was read. Veterans also laid a wreath at the memorial and the poem “In Flanders’ Fields” was read.
The veterans council is made up of local retired military organizations from around Troup County.
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