Chris Billingsley, a retired Decatur High teacher, organized the Memorial Day service in the Decatur Cemetery on May 29 at 5 p.m.

He sent along this account of the event:

At 5 p.m. the rain began to slack and the ceremony took place. We had maybe 10 people show up including a U.S. Marine and his two kids. One of the kids, a little girl, placed a rose on Veterans Rock after each statement and her older brother rang the bell. Thank you Decatur.

Volunteers placed a rose on Veterans Rock after each of the following:

55. To all the Decatur High School alumni who died while in the service of our country and are buried outside Decatur especially Major Donald Ray Brooks, Vietnam War, 1st Lieutenant Tommy Reach, Vietnam War, Lieutenant Commander Harry Edwards, Vietnam War, Sargent Jonathan Shields, Iraq War, may they rest in peace.

56. To all those who died while in the service of our country and are buried somewhere else in the United States, may they rest in peace.

57. To all those who died while in the service of our country and are buried in the Atlantic or the Pacific Oceans, especially Decatur High School graduate Lieutenant Guyton Moses Christopher WWII, may they rest in peace.

58. To all those who died while in the service of our country and are buried in Europe, Asia, Central and South America and Africa, may they rest in peace.

59. To all those who died while in the service of our country and whose final resting place in known only by God, may they rest in peace.

60.To the families of all those who died while in the service of our country, may you find peace knowing that the City of Decatur will never forget your loss and may you rest in peace.

Eb Daniels took photos of the ceremony and provided them to Decaturish.

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