City commemorates Memorial Day with service

The knowledge and importance of Memorial Day was the main theme during a service on Monday to honor those who were killed in action in the armed forces.

The annual Memorial Day service, which was presented by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 7016 and the American Legion Post No. 90, was held at the Atmore City Hall’s auditorium.

Retired National Guardsman Bobby Davis of Atmore, served as the keynote speaker.

Davis spoke about the importance of Memorial Day.

“Memorial Day is not Veterans Day,” he said. “It’s not Armed Forces Day.

“Memorial Day is unique because it is solely a day for remembering those who died in battle,” he said.

Davis said from World War I, Memorial Day was known as Poppy Day.

Davis said over the years, the meaning of Memorial Day has diminished, and that it’s important to be grateful to those who lost their lives in battle.

Memorial Day was called Decoration Day. The day is used as a commemoration for those who have fallen in action while serving in the military.

Women’s groups in the south were decorating the graves of soldiers who were killed in battled before the Civil War, according to VFW Post No. 7016 News Editor Joe Walker.

President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, N.Y. as the birthplace of Memorial Day in May 1966.