In Warren County, there were public and private services and ceremonies on Monday.

From a family member placing flowers at the grave of a loved one to Memorial marches to public events attended by more than 100 people.

The downtown Warren service was hosted by American Legion Post #135 at Warren County Courthouse.

At the service, thoughts were sent out to those still giving.

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Patrick Ross of American Legion Post No. 135 dedicates the Memorial Wreath Monday during the Memorial Day Service at Warren County Courthouse.

David Swanson of Post No. 135 read a letter from Spc. Peter Elliott serving in Vietnam to his family, a letter from a mother to the son she lost, and he spoke of the lasting value of writing.

He encouraged those at home to “write a letter” to their deployed family member and for those overseas to write home, despite the instantaneous communications now available.

Keynote Speaker Commissioner Jeff Eggleston encouraged people to do more than remember, citing President John F. Kennedy, said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

“I believe they appreciate our words,” Eggleston said. “I believe they are far more interested in our actions.”

“We thank our veterans for fighting for them when they can’t,” Eggleston said. “We owe it to them to have their dreams realized here at home… so that their sacrifice was not in vain.”

“Memorial Day gives us, the living, the change the bow our heads and honor our fallen heroes,” Patrick Ross of American Legion Post No. 135 said. “In their memory, I dedicate this wreath.”

There were Memorial Day ceremonies of many sorts – public, private, and in-between.

“We’re doing it for all of our brothers and sisters who can’t do it with us,” Frank Williams, U.S. Army Reserves, said, as he and comrades Josh Jennings, U.S. Army Rangers, and Joshua Anderson and Gavin Blum of Starbrick Volunteer Fire Department set out across the Fifth Avenue Bridge in Warren wearing plates and packs on a 14-mile Memorial Day march to Youngsville Volunteer Fire Department.