New Paris holds Memorial Day service

ELKHART COUNTY, Ind.-- Memorial Day marks a day of remembrance for all those service men and women who fought for this country. New Paris held a Memorial Day service at New Paris Cemetery Saturday afternoon.

Former marine Brad Ulick was the guest speaker at the memorial service. Ulick is a survivor of the 1983 suicide bombing in Beirut, Lebanon. The Beirut bombing is considered one of the deadliest attacks on a U.S Embassy. During his keynote speech, he spoke about that deadly day and how he watched 241 men die.  He said that was a pivotal moment in his life.

“I remember the smells, I remember the sights,  I remember the sounds. Sometimes it feels like a dream that was, somewhere lost in the fog. Other times it seems like it happened just moments ago. It’s a lens which I see my entire life through,” Ulick said.

For Ulick, Memorial Day is about remembering those we have lost. 

“We just never forget them or their families or loved ones,” Ulick said.

Many people gathered at the cemetery to commemorate the fallen service men and women who have fought for our country. The service included a rifle salute from the Goshen VFW  Honor Guard ,a  moment of silence, and the raising of the American flag by the troop 12 Boy Scouts.

“By us doing this for them, it helps to spark- in their hearts- that there’s people that are still thinking about them; that still appreciate what they do and we want to make sure that we let them know,” Steven Hite, the New Paris Memorial Day Service Director said.

Three local families of veterans who have passed away in the past year were also honored during the memorial service.