Despite a rain-drenched afternoon, more than 80 people took time to commemorate fallen veterans at the Scotland County Veterans Council Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday.

The ceremony, held at Hillside Memorial Park, featured keynote speaker retired Col. Lou Huddleston, who spoke shortly to those in attendance through the whipping rain. Huddleston ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for the 8th Congressional District.

“We all represent a legacy,” said Huddleston said. “It’s not just military service we honor today, it’s a legacy.”

Huddleston, a 31-year Army veteran, spoke to the crowd about his father’s time in Germany in 1944 during World War II. He recalled a letter his father was writing to his family and how it abruptly ended when his father learned of his brother’s death on the battlefield.

Huddleston said the letter was a reminder that all of those in attendance were part of a legacy.

“This legacy represents the sinew of America,” Huddleston said. “It holds our nation together.”

Huddleston said that the cemetery reminded him of Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia and that the flags on the graves of fallen soldiers represented to him all the souls of past veterans.

After Huddleston’s speech, the Veterans Council presented a floral tribute to remember those who had died in past wars. Those presented with flowers included Purple Heart recipients in attendance, retired veterans, American Legion Post 50, Post 181 and Post 449 as well at the Army Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2008.

Because of the rain, a 21-gun salute by the American Legion 10th District Ritual Team was cancelled.

Scotland County Veterans Council President and Mast of Ceremonies Bill Owens said that in spite of the weather, he believed that the ceremony was a success.

“It shows dedication and respect that people have for this day, Memorial Day, that’s set aside to honor our dead,” Owens said. It speaks well for our community and helps us honor our fallen soldiers.”

Owens said that he hoped that the ceremony brought awareness to Memorial Day because so many people have forgotten what it stands for.

“Our group would like to refocus people’s minds on what Memorial Day is truly about,” Owens said. “We feel it is important to pay tribute and respect to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, as some say, for the freedom we have today.”

According to the Scotland Veterans Council’s record, since World War I, Scotland County has recorded 78 war casualties, not including the latest conflicts in the Middle East.

Laurinburg mayor Matthew Block opened the ceremony with a welcome to those in attendance before the Scotland County JROTC presented the colors for the ceremony.