Memorial Day 2023
By Betsy Finklea
Freedom, our rights, selfless service—these are some of the words that speaker Ret. Chief Master Sergeant Joey Williams said he hoped those in attendance at the Dillon County Memorial Day Ceremony would take with them from his speech on Monday.
Williams said Memorial Day was a chance to honor the brave men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives for freedom. Williams recalled taking the oath at the age of 17. He then went on to speak about various people in different wars who paid with their lives and others who gave courageous service.
Williams said all of the people he spoke about were the epitome of selfless service, courage, and bravery. He said today we stand on their shoulders and enjoy the freedom that they paid for. He said “freedom isn’t free.”
He said in some countries that just for voicing their opinion on government or other matters, some are locked up or face death. He said we must choose to honor those who have served and protected freedoms like these for all of us.
Major General James E. Lockemy presented the Distinguished Deceased Veteran Award to the family of A.Z. Britt. Lockemy said Britt volunteered to go to Vietnam He also had Carroll Gene Minshew come forward to speak about how he ran across A.Z. Britt when they were both serving in Vietnam, 14,000 miles away from home, Dillon County.
Veteran Lloyd Brown read the names of those veterans who have passed away since the last Memorial Day while Veteran Levern Hayes tolled the bell. Veteran Joe Manning and Ronnie Stone placed a memorial wreath on the wall of honor as taps was played.
Others participating in the event were Commander Jim Chavis, Rev. Rob Pierce, the Carolina Master Chorale who sang the National Anthem and America The Beautiful, Veteran Thom Thompson, SFC Harry Moore, Army Instructor Randy Gray and the DHS JROTC, and Veteran Charlie Vance.
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