SALUTE — Members of Mingo Junction’s American Legion Post 351 gave a gun salute during the village’s Memorial Day Service Monday. -- Christopher Dacanay

MINGO JUNCTION — Village officials and residents called to mind U.S. service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, during a downtown Memorial Day service Monday.

Gathering at the Commercial Street veterans memorial, individuals honored those service members, as well as current and retired military personnel on the national holiday formerly known as Decoration Day. Those gathered for the service were invited for refreshments afterward in the Mingo Junction Senior Center.

“Lord Jesus, you said, ‘There is no greater love than that person who lays down their life for a friend,'” said the Rev. Sam Davis, pastor of Harmony Church, in an opening prayer. “You willingly did that for all mankind so that we might be free.

“We gather again this Memorial Day to honor and thank those brave souls of our military who gave their lives for the cause of freedom. We pray that each of those who served and has passed from this temporal world is with you and that you have comforted their loved ones. Lord Jesus, we also pray that you watch over, bless and protect all presently serving. Lord, may all the citizens of our country truly memorialize, show the respect, honor and gratitude that our military men and women deserve.”

Mayor Judy Ruckman, acting as master of ceremonies, thanked all current and former military personnel and thanked all those who contributed to making the Memorial Day service possible.

GATHERING — Individuals were treated to food, drinks and cake at the Mingo Junction Senior Center after the village’s Memorial Day Service Monday. -- Christopher Dacanay

Bobby Pizzoferrato led attendees in singing the “Star-Spangled Banner,” followed later by “God Bless the U.S.A.” by Lee Greenwood. Pizzoferrato switched part of the lyrics to be “From Detroit down to Mingo,” rather than Houston as the latter location.

The Rev. Samuel Williams Jr., pastor of Christ the King Family Worship Center in Weirton, gave the service’s main address. Williams served in the Army’s Second Infantry Division out of Tacoma, Wash.

“I am honored and proud to serve my country, and I just thank God that he got me back home,” Williams said. “I believe we live in the best country in the whole wide world.”

Memorial Day “means a lot of things to a lot of people,” Williams said, adding that some people look at the holiday only as a means for a day off of work or to have a barbecue.

“It really is about those fallen soldiers who never made it home. I always just want us to remember that — the ones who didn’t make it home — because they made some serious sacrifices for you and I, sacrifices that you can’t even imagine. … I think it’s very, very powerful that these men and women went overseas and fought for people they didn’t even really know. They were willing to lay their lives down for you and I.”

ANTHEM — Bobby Pizzoferrato led attendees in singing the “Star-Spangled Banner” during the village’s Memorial Day Service Monday. From left are the Rev. Sam Davis, pastor of Hamony Church; Mingo Junction Village Council members Adam Peeler, Pat Cramblett, Patti Mannarino and Mark Baker; Mayor Judy Ruckman and Pizzoferrato. -- Christopher Dacanay

Williams cited estimates claiming a total of 1.1 million Americans have died in all US wars, adding that he believes there are more than that. He said it’s important that Americans honors these casualties and their families, who also suffered greatly from their relatives’ death.

Decoration Day was first observed in 1868 “for the purpose of healing,” Williams said, adding that “healing is a very powerful thing when you lose someone.”

Bob Smith and Harry “PeeWee” Freiling recited the 1915 poem “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae and the 1922 response poem “Rest ye in peace, ye Flanders dead” by R.W. Lilliard respectively.

Smith read the names of Mingo Junction residents who died while serving in the U.S. armed forces, individuals who he said, “really did pay the ultimate price.” Earlier in the day, wreaths were placed at the veterans memorial, which bears those residents’ names.

Members of Mingo Junction’s American Legion Post 351 gave a gun salute for the fallen. Jace Clark an Indian Creek High School junior, played taps on the trumpet. Clark plays the trumpet with Post 351 during ceremonies it hosts at the Mingo Junction’s three cemeteries: Oakland, St. Andrew’s and Point View cemeteries.

Davis offered a concluding prayer, followed by an encore of “God Bless the U.S.A.” by Pizzoferrato.

After the service, attendees were treated to food, drinks and cake at the next-door Mingo Junction Senior Center.

The center’s Secretary Diane Pernick announced to attendees that the center is offering hot meals to seniors. Beginning next month, the center will have meals every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Individuals should call (740) 275-2798 on the Friday before to reserve a meal.