27-05-2025
Region marks ultimate sacrifice of veterans on Memorial Day
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — From Williamsburg to Portsmouth, and places throughout Hampton Roads, people paid their respects on Memorial Day to U.S. military members who have died in service to their country.
Starting with the oldest in the nation,
'Freedom is not free, so they paid the cost for us to, you know, be here,' said attendee Micheal Stith. 'So we want to thank them for that.'
In Virginia Beach, symbols of gratitude were offered in memory of those lost while serving this country during a ceremony happened at Tidewater Veteran's Memorial. Wreaths were placed, and veterans in attendance were able to reflect.
'Memorial Day kind of symbolizes what people [had] to give [so that] you and me and him and everybody else can walk around free,' said Navy veteran Don McAlister.
In Norfolk,
'We pause all over America to pay tribute, to honor our fallen heroes, those men and women who lost their lives in service, defending our country, defending our freedom,' said Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander.
On the Peninsula, Newport News had an event at Victory Landing Park, sponsored by American Legion Braxton-Perkins Post 25.
In Williamsburg, residents at a retirement community also hosted a Memorial Day program in which they remembered the men and women who gave their lives to protect the nation.
'Memorial Day is a very important day for me, from my family connection to the military,' said Air Force veteran Ralph Barrows, 'but also because of all of the friends that I knew and lost in different wars during the during my lifespan.'
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