JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) – As the nation paused to honor those who served and never returned, the community of Johnson City gathered to pay tribute to Washington County’s fallen heroes.
The remembrance event took place on Monday at the Johnson City/Washington County Veterans’ Memorial Park, situated adjacent to Kiwanis Park on West Market Street’s 700 block.
Gary McAllister, the Chairman of the Johnson City/Washington County Memorial Foundation, shared with News Channel 11 the significance of Memorial Day. He emphasized that it is a day to remember that “some gave all, all gave some.”
“We want to ensure we never forget them,” McAllister expressed. “There are over 360 men from Washington County who didn’t return home. They never had the chance to grow old, meet their daughters or granddaughters, or get married.”
McAllister encouraged the community to express their gratitude by simply thanking a veteran or visiting the memorial to honor those who sacrificed their lives for the country.
“I came up here in the morning one time, and there was a woman and she was just touching names, she just said thank you,” McAllister said. “You can do that, that’s all we ask.”