VALDOSTA, GA (WTXL) - In Lowndes County, community members worked to keep Memorial Day as a time of remembrance for all fallen soldiers.
Serving during the Vietnam era from 1962 to 1965, Richard Brown took great pride in defending his country.
An ammunition specialist at Fort Benning, it helped shape his appreciation for all men and women who serve.
On Memorial Day, Brown now serves as the commander of the American Legion and on this holiday, he worked to keep the memory alive of those that couldn't be standing here today.
"We do this every year to honor those that are here because of why they're here," said Brown.
Brown and several other community members walked the grounds of Sunset Cemetery, putting flags next to each headstone of a military veteran.
"Being scattered out the way they are, it's a process, it's a big process," explained Brown.
Brown and his American Legion Post 13 family put out over 2000 flags, honoring those fallen heroes for Memorial Day. An ultimate sacrifice that Brown said he'd never be able to match.
"I was one of the lucky ones. Me, I'm still walking around, that's hard to do, it's hard to put a relate that way," said Brown.
Keeping the fallen heroes at the front of the holiday or even inquiring about one's journey in the military is a grand gesture for any veteran and Brown says it keeps their sacrifice from being in vain.
"A lot of people don't talk about their so-called war stories, there are a few out there that will, they need a good ear every now and then, it helps them," Brown explained.
The American Legion Post 13 also held a remembrance Memorial Day Celebration this morning.
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