DANVILLE — Danville residents found new ways to celebrate old memories during the village’s Memorial Day festivities on Monday. The village officially dedicated a new flagpole, a new Walk of Honor and a new memorial plaque at Memorial Park, capping a morning of festivities that included a parade and keynote address by the Rev. Lloyd Miller of Greer Wesleyan Church.
“Heroes are made of sacrifice,” Miller told a crowd of more than a hundred in Memorial Park. “But sacrifice is not always temporary. We’re here to remember those who gave it all.”
Lisa Blaisdell, president of the Danville American Legion Auxiliary, highlighted the changes to Memorial Park when Miller finished his address.
The Walk of Honor was created by Eagle Scout Pat Crow Jr. Names of local veterans are engraved in the bricks that compose the walkway.
The new flagpole was dedicated by Gary and Carol Didinger, and the new plaque, which lists the names of Danville residents who died in U.S. military conflicts, replaced an old plaque that was last updated after the Vietnam War.
During his address, Miller said he was reminded of the time Joshua led the Israelites across the Jordan Sea. In that instance, Miller said, Joshua erected 12 stones as a reminder to the Israelites of all they had overcome.
“This rock,” Miller said, indicating the memorial behind him, “this memorial is our reminder.”
The ceremonies in Memorial Park followed the annual parade, which stepped off from the square at 10 a.m. Little Leaguers, fire trucks, the Danville High School marching band, horses, dance teams and other parade participants marched down Market Street toward the park.
Spectators lined both sides of the street and lounged in the shade of trees and front porches as the parade passed.
“We’re here to honor the vets,” said Susan Dusthimer, a Danville resident who watched the parade with her daughter, Lelia. Dusthimer’s son and husband were marching in the parade.
“I really enjoy the parade, especially when the weather is nice,” she said.
Pastor Monte Vance of the New Harvest Community Gathering Church delivered the invocation and benediction. Members of Boy Scout Troop 340 raised the flag at the beginning of the ceremony while the Danville High School marching band played the national anthem.
At the end of the ceremony, Pat Crow Jr. and Cody Kohler played “Taps” while members of American Legion Post 650 performed a rifle salute.
Also recognized during the ceremony were four Gold Star mothers: Judy Goare, Bethal Carey, Mary Shaw and Deborah Martin. Members of Girl Scout Troop 435 presented flowers to Goare, who was the only one present.
“This is our history,” Blaisdell said after the event. “Danville is coming up on its bicentennial, and this ceremony celebrates the history of the area. It celebrates what has happened here. It’s how we honor our vets.”
Diane Ridgway, a Danville resident and member of the Danville American Legion Auxillary, passed out small flags to spectators along the parade route.
“This is what it’s all about,” she said. “We just have to instill this pride in young people.”
