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Richard Pace, retired colonel, U.S. Army, gives the address Monday for Cleveland's downtown Memorial Day ceremony on the courthouse plaza.Photo by Randall Higgins /Chattanooga Times Free Press.
CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- The names of Bradley County's war dead from World War I until now echoed around the courthouse square Monday, read by members of Chattanooga Composite Squadron 192, Civil Air Patrol, as part of a Memorial Day ceremony.
Likewise, the 192 names of Bradley County veterans who died during the past 12 months were read aloud by Mayor Tom Rowland, accompanied by a drum roll and taps from Cleveland High School band members.
"You are the living memory of those who gave their lives,'' retired U.S. Army Col. Richard Pace, the guest speaker, told the audience standing and sitting in the shade across from the Bradley Courthouse Plaza.
Some of the audience wore military uniforms from World War II, Korea, Vietnam and Iraq.
Pace, coordinator of the Church of God Chaplains Commission, reminded the audience that no medals or folded flags can fill the hole in the hearts of mothers grieving for sons and daughters who gave their lives for the country.
No veterans of World War I are living now to tell their stories, said Civil Air Patrol cadet Matthew Blach.
"Only the history books can tell that story now,'' said the young cadet as he began reading the names of local men who died in that war.
He was followed by other CAP cadets reading the lengthy list of local dead from World War II, Korea, Vietnam and Iraq.
Members of the Aldersgate Garden Club brought flowers to remember those who served, or are serving, each branch of the American military.
"I read where Memorial Day was set for the month of May because flowers would be in bloom for what was then called Decoration Day,'' Rowland said. "So these flowers are symbolic of the memories of those who have given so much, because in our hearts they will always be in bloom.''
Contact staff writer Randall Higgins at rhiggins@timesfreepress.com or 423-314-1029.
Randall Higgins covers news in Cleveland, Tenn., for the Times Free Press. He started work with the Chattanooga Times in 1977 and joined the staff of the Chattanooga Times Free Press when the Free Press and Times merged in 1999. Randall has covered Southeast Tennessee, Northwest Georgia and Alabama. He now covers Cleveland and Bradley County and the neighboring region. Randall is a Cleveland native. He has bachelor’s degree from Tennessee Technological University. His awards ...
