'Duty, honor, country'

Retired Master Sgt. Lorenzia (Lo) Henderson reminded visitors at Pleasant View Cemetery on Monday that Memorial Day was more than a long weekend reserved for barbeques, beers and backyard gatherings.

"It's a day that all Americans are encouraged to pause to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and our way of life," he said. "To truly honor their lives, we must share their stories with others and ensure their memories live on."

Henderson, of rural Hartley, served more than three decades in the Marines and Army. He said his decorated career paled in comparison to those who scarified their lives for our country – like Army SSGs Shane Koele and LeRoy Webster, both of Hartley, who were killed while serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, respectively.

"By sharing their stories, we keep their memories alive and give others a glimpse of military service that aims to inspire them to create a better world, a stronger nation and stronger communities," Henderson said.

The former soldier encouraged those in attendance to keep the service and sacrifice of America's best and bravest alive beyond Memorial Day.

"Duty, honor, country – they lived for it and they died for it," he said. "As a nation, we must remind ourselves of the future they fought for, and do our best to live up to those values every day."