Members of American Legion Post 51, the Chattahoochee Rotary, and Gadsden County Commissioner, District 3 Kimblin NeSmith gathered at Mount Pleasant Cemetery on Monday morning, November 7, to honor the memory of the many United States military veterans buried there.
The veterans of Post 51 stood at attention and saluted as the American flag was raised above the cemetery at 8 a.m., followed by the pledge of allegiance, and a brief prayer led by Adjutant John Clark, who is himself a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.
Following the ceremony, those attending spread out around the cemetery to locate the graves of veterans, marking each with a small American flag to honor their service to our country.
Mount Pleasant Cemetery, located off Blue Star Memorial Highway outside Chattahoochee, was established in 1844, and is the final resting place for many local veterans who served throughout American history, some as far back as the American Civil War.
At times, finding the graves was difficult, as some of the older grave markers were worn with age or obscured by foliage, and those involved spent hours ensuring that each veteran was remembered for the sacrifices they made.
It was a labor of love.
Adjutant Clark put it in these words: “This is in appreciation for those that, whether they died in action or made it home, took the time to serve their country so the rest can be free. We wish more people were out here to honor them.”
Stephen Klein – Gadsden County News Service
