SPRING LAKE — Around two dozen people attended a Memorial Day ceremony Friday in Spring Lake.
The Rev. Jeffrey Stafford, an Army veteran and pastor of Manna Life Center off Manchester Road, was the keynote speaker. His remarks concentrated on not repeating the reasons for the sacrifice but learning from the reason.
“A lesson should be so that we can learn so that sacrifice doesn’t need to be repeated,” Stafford said. “We honor the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice, and we owe it to them to not repeat the reason.”
Stafford said events happening around the world — whether war or Tuesday’s shooting in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 students and two teachers died at Robb Elementary School — were not normal.
“This cannot be considered the norm,’’ he said. “There are two things that we need to do. First, love him (God) completely with our entire mind and spirit and second, love each other like we love ourselves.”
“Today, we honor the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice,’’ Stafford said. “As John 15:13 says, greater love has no one than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
He said he believed that if people come together for a common goal and a common purpose they can do better together.
Stafford encouraged those who attended to be the “dream team” and reopen the prayer line for the sake of the town, the country and the world.
The ceremony included remarks from Mayor Kia Anthony and Alderwoman Adrian Thompson, who reminded attendees not to forget the reason for the day.
The ceremony had been planned for Spring Lake Veterans Memorial Park but was moved to the recreation center because of inclement weather.
