SEAFORD, Del.- Bagpipes and drums were used to perform "Amazing Grace". A solemn song most known for being played at funerals for veterans.
On this Memorial Day, the City of Seaford remembers the fallen especially those that were Seaford natives. The gold star families of those servicemen were in attendance during the ceremony.
Thirty-eight names are engraved on the Seaford Veterans Memorial. All who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Lance Corporal Rick James of the United States Marine Corps lived in Seaford and was killed in action in Iraq on May 13, 2006. His father Jake spoke about the day he had heard learned of his son's passing.
"I screamed, what?," James said. "And from Harrington back to Seaford took about five minutes. I was going through stoplights, going around traffic. I was in a bad state of mind."
Brett Robinson is from Rochester, New York but served with Rick overseas. He says this was the first time he was able to come to this ceremony and remember his friend.
"It was hard for all of us. I think we were all in shock," Robinson said. "It was a very dangerous place at the time. We were taking casualties regularly. But this one hit close, close to home."
Retired U.S, Army helicopter pilot Pete Bohn reminds everyone why Memorial Day is celebrated.
"It is our duty on Memorial Day to thank the veterans that gave their all," Bohn said. "It is our duty to pass this tradition and history on to the next generation so that the fallen will always be remembered."
It is the annual gatherings like this one that we are reminded that our freedom isn't free and that for some families Memorial Day is every day.