ODESSA, Texas — The Odessa American Legion held a wreath laying ceremony at the Ector County Cemetery with honor in their hearts Monday.
“We had to remember our fallen heroes from the Civil War, World War Two, World War One, Vietnam, Desert Storm and the Afghan War," said Tony Morgan, the American Legion Post 403 commander. "We honor, respect and remember all of our veterans, to those that didn't make it back to some that came back but wasn't fully here.”
Community members from all across Odessa paid their respects to the fallen by laying a wreath down in front of the war memorial during a holiday that unified everyone in attendance.
“This is not a day for division. It's not a day where we we talk politics or what side we're on," said Paul Courtaway, a former major in the United States Marine Corp. "We are on the side of freedom and the side of democracy and this republic. What this republic stands for is that we have answered that call to defend tyranny wherever it is.”
It was also a time to reflect on the true meaning of Memorial Day.
“So often we think of Memorial Day is barbecue and beer and picnics in the beginning of summer," Courtaway said. "Memorial Day has had this profound effect on those of us who served and should have this profound effect on our nation to be a day where we remember the names of those people who have granted us the rights, liberties and freedoms that we have today."
It's also a time to remember those who aren't here with us, as well as a day to reflect on why they volunteered to defend their country.
“That service man or woman did not die. They did not volunteer to die, they volunteered to live and we forget that," Courtaway said. "It's not a volunteer to die. It's a volunteer to live in defense of freedom.”
Speaking at the event, Courtaway offered those in attendance a way to offer more for veterans than just talk.
“Have you gone to the veterans house who's deployed currently and said to that veteran's wife who's home or that veteran's husband who's still home, can I help you? Can I watch the kids while you go shopping, so that you have a babysitter? Can I change the oil in your truck? Can I cut your lawn?" Courtaway said. "Can I do something simple, not something that I post on Facebook but something that i can just do that's tangible.”