Name unveiled on Veterans Memorial at Post 197 program

American Legion Post 197 held the annual Memorial Day observation on the square with a special service to honor WWI veteran Lee Roy Todd as his name was unveiled on the Veterans Memorial. He was killed in action in France June 3, 1918 but his name was never added to the monument until recently.

“In 1949, Post 197 erected the Pike County Veterans Monument for WWI and WWII veterans who lived in Pike County and had given the ultimate sacrifice for those wars. Since then, Post 197 has added veterans from WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War and the War on Global Terrorism,” said the Post 197 resolution.

Chase Todd is the great nephew of Private Lee Roy Todd from Concord and he and his family were honored at the Memorial Day event and during the special unveiling ceremony in honor of Lee Roy Todd who died serving our nation during WWI.

During the Memorial Day observation program, Moody-Daniel Funeral Home and the Pike County Sheriff’s Office provided a hearse escort and then unloaded a U.S. flag draped casket which was escorted from the hearse to the podium and represented all of the veterans of this nation from its founding to currently. There was a three-round volley by Post 197 Honor Guard member Ron Griffin which was followed by Taps, played by Pike County High School junior Will Busby.

Millie Smith sang the National Anthem at the start of the program as well as Amazing Grace and America The Beautiful. Millie rang a bell as her mother, Legionnaire Talena Smith, read the names of each of the veterans who have passed away since last Memorial Day.

The Honor Guard for the program consisted of Pike County Fire Department Deputy Chief Doug Neath and Chief Joe Wiley, Sheriff’s Office deputies Deangelo Smith and Hannah Gardner and Post 197’s Tim Dukes, Steve Golias, Ron Griffin and Stefan Huckaby.

Representatives of America’s youngest generation who led the Pledge of Allegiance included Anna Bottoms, Madelyn Bottoms, Abigail Bottoms, Eli Butler, Ryan Crawford, Marrisa Ferral and Savannah Smith.

At the conclusion of the Memorial Day service, Rep. Beth Camp, Zebulon mayor Joe Walter and the multi-organizational Honor Guard posted a memorial wreath donated by Cindy’s Florist at the casket. After the service, it was moved to the base of the Veteran’s Memorial.