On a dreary Memorial Day that saw both the annual parade and wreath-laying ceremony canceled due to weather, a crowd still gathered at the Ardis T. Williams Sr. Auditorium for the 46th annual Memorial Day service in Vicksburg Monday morning.

With a theme of “Lest We Forget,” this year’s service featured keynote speaker Col. Christian Patterson, PhD, commander of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) in Vicksburg.

Patterson, a Mississippi native who became the ERDC’s 12th commander on July 14, 2022, said commemorating fallen U.S. military members on Memorial Day is one of the most important tasks of patriotism.

“Memorial Day is a day of national recognition to honor the military men and women who died in service to the United States during peacetime and war,” Patterson said. “As we prepare to celebrate the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday on June the 14th, if you’ll permit me, I’d like to touch on the Army today, a branch of service whose presence is widespread here in the city of Vicksburg.”

Patterson said Memorial Day is a reminder of the U.S. Army’s purpose.

“To fight and win the nation’s wars,” he said. “We remain committed to honing our war-fighting skills, enforcing standards and discipline and living the values that have defined our Army culture for the past 250 years. On this Memorial Day, we reflect on our rich history and legacy of service, sacrifice and dedication. From the Revolutionary War to present-day missions, our soldiers – along with service members from all branches – have consistently demonstrated their resolve to defend freedom here at home and abroad.”

Patterson said Memorial Day was first observed after the Civil War and initially called Decoration Day because families gathered to remember their loved ones who died in military service by decorating their graves with flowers and flags.

“This tradition continues across America today,” he said. “Every Memorial Day, soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, the Old Guard, place American flags at every grave marker at Arlington National Cemetery.”

Patterson said it also important on Memorial Day to remember the families of fallen soldiers and the sacrifices they have made for America.

“We continue to honor those left behind who paid a person price for us and our nation,” he said. “We’re humbled by their sacrifices, inspired by their resilience, and grateful for their continued service to our communities.”

Monday’s service also included an invocation by Comrade Dorwin Shields of Vicksburg’s American Legion Post 213; an introduction of the minister by Comrade Alonzo Stevens of Post 213; a memorial message from Minister Walter Frazier; a musical selection by Mary Smith; the recitation of “A Soldier’s Prayer” by Rep. Oscar Denton; and a reading of the poem “In Flanders Fields” by Comrade Linda Stevens of Post 213.

Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs Jr. also gave special thanks to a longtime supporter of local veterans affairs during Monday’s service.

“I want to take the opportunity to recognize a distinguished person that has been bold enough and had courage enough to be steadfast for this Memorial Day commemoration,” Flaggs said. “And that is chairman of this committee Mr. Willie Glasper.”