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Veterans in attendance were recognized with members of the Covington Veterans Foundation and guest speaker Meacham Bailey during a Memorial Day ceremony held at the Covington Veterans Monument on Monday. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)

Command Sergeant Major Meacham Bailey of the Alabama National Guard served as the guest speaker for the ceremony. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)

Billy Beech, Dist. 3 Councilwoman Hazel Griffin, and Dist. 1 Councilman Joe Nix were among those in attendance for Monday's ceremony. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)

Andalusia residents Tom Keon and Loretta Black attended the ceremony with their friends from Seattle, David and Debbie Frost. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)

Brian Foshee served as the master of ceremonies. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)

City of Andalusia Mayor Earl Johnson welcomed those in attendance and introduced guest speaker Command Sergeant Major Meacham Bailey of the Alabama National Guard. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)

Johnny Brewer performed "Taps" on the trumpet during the ceremony. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)

Andalusia Fire Department Captain Shannon Kelley and City of Andalusia Administrative Coordinator Kelly Ralls were also in attendance Monday. (PHOTO BY ZACK MAIO)

Community members gathered at the Covington Veterans Monument Monday morning and helped honor the lives of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the United States.

The Memorial Day ceremony, hosted by the City of Andalusia and Covington Veterans Foundation, featured Command Sergeant Major Meacham Bailey of the Alabama National Guard as the guest speaker. A native of Roanoke, Alabama, Bailey previously spent eight years as the leader of Andalusia’s 1-117th Field Artillery Battalion.

“On this solemn occasion, we gather not to celebrate war but to honor the men and women who gave their lives in defense of our nation, our freedoms, and the ideals we strive to uphold,” Bailey said. “Memorial Day is more than a long weekend. It’s more than a time for cookouts, parades, or a quick getaway. It is a day of remembrance: a day when we pause to recognize the cost of freedom we enjoy and the brave souls who paid the price with their lives.”

The ceremony began with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Master of Ceremonies Brian Foshee followed by the national anthem performed by Tommy McGaha. Mayor Earl Johnson welcomed attendees and introduced Bailey as the guest speaker.

“We are honored to have Command Sergeant Major Meacham Bailey as our guest speaker today. Command Sergeant Major Bailey is currently assigned as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader of the Alabama National Guard where he has served since 1988. He has completed extensive training through the Guard and the U.S. Army,” Johnson said.

In Bailey’s speech, he referred to the Bible verse John 15:13, which states, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

“This verse speaks to the very heart of what Memorial Day is about. The men and women we honor today lived those words. They laid down their lives not just for the people they knew but for a nation, for ideals, and for future generations for us. Their sacrifice was not in vain; it was an act of love, the greatest love,” he said.

Bailey’s awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Components Achieve Medal with two oak leaf clusters, National Defense Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (6th Award), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” device.

“From the hills of Gettysburg to the sands of Iwo Jima, from the jungles of Vietnam to the mountains of Afghanistan, and the deserts of Iraq, American service members have stood on the front lines of liberty. Too many never came home,” Bailey said. “They were sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, friends and neighbors. Each of them had dreams, hopes, and plans for the future. They wore the uniform not for fame or glory but out of duty for the country and for the person standing beside them. We may not know each of their names. We may not know the full measure of their sacrifice, but today, we honor them all.”

Bailey encouraged those in attendance to not forget those who are no longer with us.

“As we leave here today, let us not leave the memory of our fallen behind. Let us carry it with us: in how we live, how we serve, and how we treat one another. Let their legacy live on through us. On this Memorial Day, we bow our heads in remembrance. We raise our flags in gratitude and pledge to never forget the heroes who gave their all so that we might live free. May God bless our fallen heroes, their families, and the United States of America,” he said.

A moment of silence was then observed before the playing of “Taps” by Johnny Brewer on the trumpet. The ceremony ended with a word of prayer from Mayor Johnson.

The Covington Veterans Foundation consists of Chairman John Vick, President Ben Bowden, Treasurer Teresa Ward, Secretary Michele Gerlach, Chaplain Terry Powell, Operations Manager Robert Evers, Tim Atkinson, Harold Burnham, Veterans Service Officer Brian Foshee, Sammy Glover, Brenda Gouge, Terry Kyzar, Assistant Veterans Service Officer Kelley Lynn, Trippy McGuire, Linda Moore, David Morrow, Carroll Mullis, John Roach, Jud Whitlock, and Sue Bass Wilson.

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