Scotts Hill Memorial Day Service hosts record number

SCOTTS HILL, Tenn. — Young and old gathered Monday morning to honor their fallen service men and women.

Recognition of their sacrifice rang through the air as the tune of “Taps” carried through the park as Scotts Hill.

“I’m the one who plays “Taps,” and it’s hard. That’s my favorite part,” Air Force Veteran Danny Jackson said.

The Scotts Hill American Legion hosted their annual Memorial Day service.

“We are here every year because 100,000 men gave their lives for this country,” Post 243 Commander Ronnie Butler said.

The ceremony talked about the sacrifice of veterans.

“Most folks don’t understand what a veteran actually goes through — being away from home, facing death every day,” Butler said.

Jackson served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, and he said Memorial Day isn’t the only time he remembers his comrades.

“I think every day about the 58,000 that didn’t make it back. I think about it every day,” Jackson said.

“We need to go to the graveyards, we need to honor these people, and we need to speak their names,” keynote speaker Tom Buck said. “These soldiers, the only thing they have is their name. They died for it, and we need to remember them.”

Organizers say the service had a record turnout of around 300 people.