Fallen heroes honored at Pinecrest Memorial Gardens ceremony
Families and citizens gathered for a Memorial Day ceremony at Pinecrest Memorial Gardens in north Columbia to honor service men and women who lost their lives protecting the country's freedom.
Keynote speaker Col. Scott Gaines, who was born in Columbia, delivered a speech before the crowd, drawing from his 35-year experience in the U.S. Army, retiring from the Tennessee Army National Guard in 2019.
"We do not forget. Whether it's an hour ago or a century go, regardless of the decade or century, we remember," Gaines said.
Gaines also recognized the nine soldiers killed on March 29 when two Black Hawk helicopters crashed near Ft. Campbell.
"It is felt here as well, and you can rest assured that we will always be pained for the Gold Star families who will mourn for them for the rest of their lives."
Gaines said fallen heroes of battle represent the "patchwork" of America.
"Whether rich or poor, black or white, male or female, representing every political spectrum, they all took an oath to call," he said.
The Columbia Central High School JROTC members performed the presentation of colors and led a flag-folding ceremony for fallen heroes lost in the line of duty serving America.
Acclaimed violinist DeMetri Moon performed "God Bless America" and other patriotic songs during the program .
After the ceremony, families visited the gravesites of lost loved ones, and flags were placed on the graves of veterans.
'It's a blessing'
Attendee Charline Crosby attended the event with her brother, both showing respect for members of their family buried at the cemetery who served in the military.
"Memorial Day is an important day to me," Crosby said. "I have two brothers who served in the Navy and the Army and fought in Vietnam. My father was a veteran in the Army. It's important to come out and honor them. They fought for our country to stay free. It's a blessing."
Marisa Johnson attended the ceremony to watch her daughter, Ariana Johnson, perform the presentation of colors as part of the Columbia Central High School JROTC.
"It means a lot for the students to be involved in the community and honor the service men and women who perished serving our country," Johnson said.
In 1989, Gaines graduated from the Tennessee Military Academy and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. He served as a platoon leader, company commander, staff officer, battalion commander with his final assignment as commander of the 117TH Regional Training Institute.
He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2008 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He also graduated from the United States Army War College in 2015.
Gaines earned numerous awards including the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and the Tennessee National Guard Distinguished Service Medal.
Gaines also served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, supervisor and assistant superintendent in Maury County Public Schools before retiring last June. He now lives in Mount Pleasant, Tennessee with his wife Ann.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Fallen heroes honored at Pinecrest Memorial Gardens ceremony
