ROCKINGHAM — Richmond County’s war dead were remembered Saturday in the annual Memorial Day Service.
Rainy weather moved the service — a joint effort of local veterans organizations — from Veterans Memorial Park to the hall at VFW Post 4203.
The wreaths representing the nation’s wars and veterans groups, normally individually placed during the service, lined one wall of the room.
During the ceremony, those from the county who were killed during the Vietnam War were individually recognized with the ringing of a bell and salute by cadets from Richmond Senior High School’s Army JROTC Raider Battalion as their names were called out.
Richmond County’s Vietnam casualties were:
Thomas Lee Lewis – U.S. Army
Robert Austin Stubberfield – U.S. Air Force
James Arthur Ashecraft – U.S. Army
Jimmie Louis Ellerbe – U.S. Army
Luther Harris Howard – U.S. Army
James Edward McPherson – U.S. Army
Lonnie Ellerbe Jr. – U.S. Marine Corps
Benjamin Tally Dawkins – U.S. Army
Billie Grover Russ – U.S. Army
Noah Leland Smith – U.S. Army
Lonnie Elwood Hoopaugh – U.S. Navy
Wiley Barry Moss – U.S. Army
Donald Lincoln Covington – U.S. Army
William Thomas Waddell – U.S. Army
(Note: Photos from Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund website.)
The honor guard from AMVETS Post 316 performed a Missing Man Table ceremony, as well as a 21-gun salute and playing of taps at the end of the service.
The town of Dobbins Heights held a Memorial Day service on Friday.
See more photos from Saturday’s service below.
