Memorial Day service honors the fallen

Air Force veteran Ralph Sims holds a U.S. flag Monday morning during a Memorial Day service at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock.
Air Force veteran Ralph Sims holds a U.S. flag Monday morning during a Memorial Day service at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock.

— Families and friends of veterans, along with various state and area officials joined with actively members and veterans of the military on Monday morning for a service honoring those that lost their lives in the defense of the United States.

The 45-minute service was attended by hundreds of those paying respects to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice including Governor Mike Beebe, Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel and North Little Rock Mayor Patrick Henry Hayes.

In his address to the audience, Beebe called for more Arkansans to thank servicemen and women for what they do to keep the country safe and allow Americans to live their lives in peace. He also paid homage to those in the military who paid with their lives to defend the United States.

"All the families of the fallen, we mourn with you," Beebe said. "All those who have ever served, who put their lives in harms way, thank you."

The ceremony featured Beebe and Cissy Rucker, Director of the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs, laying a wreath to honor the departed. The were salutes to fallen members of the Navy, Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, as well as a playing of Taps and a firing detail salute to conclude the service.

Read more about this story in tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

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