Veterans remembered at Broadway ceremony

Nov. 12—Despite the divisiveness in found in American politics today, the country is "stronger and safer" because of the service and sacrifice of military veterans.

Those were the opening words of the annual Veterans Day Service in Broadway on Friday.

They came from Leon Jackson, a retired soldier representing the Disabled American Veterans which serves Lee County veterans.

Unlike previous years, threatening skies forced the service to be held indoors at American Legion Post 47 on South Main Street in Broadway. As a result, the crowd was smaller than previous services which have been held outdoors at the NC Veterans Memorial Pavilion.

Broadway Mayor Donald Andrews welcomed the guests and told him that the military would always have a special place in his life — his father served on the Army's Special Forces team also known as the Green Berets for the color of their caps.

While praising the service of veterans, he also urged people to remember those who were killed or went missing in action.

"Let us not forget those who didn't return," Andrews said. "As a nation, they are owed a debt we fully cannot pay."

Kyla Love, the Lee County Veterans Services officer, was the featured speaker of the event. Her husband is currently serving in the military.

"Veterans are in pain all the time whether they admit it or not," Love said.

The pain is physical and emotional, she said. Many of them have "psychological angst," she said.

The Veterans Service Office provides resources to help veterans deal with psychological needs, disabilities benefits and homelessness.

"We support them and empower them," Love said.

They work to bring veterans out of the past and give something to work toward.

"You are the veterans of the United States Military, and you are our heroes," Love said.

___

(c)2022 The Sanford Herald (Sanford, N.C.)

Visit The Sanford Herald (Sanford, N.C.) at www.sanfordherald.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.