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Fallen not forgotten

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class BrieAnna Stillman
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Team Shaw and the local community came together to show their respect to fallen service members, prisoners of war and missing in action members, and break-ground for a new Veterans Memorial at Sumter Shaw Park, South Carolina, May 28.

Memorial Day is nationally observed in the United States on the last Monday in May to honor and remember fallen U.S. military members.

“We are here to recognize those who have laid down their lives for us,” said James T. McCain, Jr., Sumter County Council Chairman. “Although Shaw only has Airmen and Soldiers, the memorial represents and honors all branches’ veterans and fallen brothers and sisters.”

Memorial Day is the only day out of the year where the flag is flown at half-staff to honor the war dead for the morning and then raised to full height for living veterans for the rest of the day.

Retired Chief Master Sgt. Lefford Fate said almost everyone at the Memorial Day ceremony knew someone who lost their life to war. People asked Fate, “How do you get over the loss?”

Fate responded with, “You never get over it, you get through it.”