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Remember and Honor
Every day, veterans and active-duty military die from circumstances that result directly from their military service. Twenty-two warriors die daily from suicide alone. Combat, Agent Orange, burn pits, post-traumatic stress, and training incidents cause many more deaths.
To recognize Memorial Day this year, the Veterans at First Community Church will sponsor a Witness Tree Ceremony. This ceremony allows us to take a few moments and reflect on all the service members who have perished as a result of their military service. In doing so, we are honoring the service members and recognizing the loss and sacrifices that their families and loved ones have made.
The ceremony will include hanging 22 military-style identification (dog) tags on a tree in the Prayer Garden at First Community Church (South), 1320 Cambridge Blvd. People will be given the opportunity to recognize their loved ones by speaking of them and/or writing a name on one of the tags. There will be a time for prayer and time to bond. Taps will be played at the end of each ceremony.
The ceremony is open to all and will begin on Tuesday, May 21, and continue through Memorial Day (May 27). The Witness Tree Ceremony will be at 6 pm each evening from May 21 through May 26. On Memorial Day (Monday, May 27), the service will be at 9 am, with refreshments following.
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