The old District Courtroom in the Historic Shelby County Courthouse was the site of the annual Memorial Day ceremonies hosted by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8904 and the Ladies Auxiliary yesterday.

Post Commander Larry Hume gave a brief history of Memorial Day, explaining how it began as Decoration Day in 1866 in Waterloo, New York in honor of those who had given the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

One-hundred forty-seven years and six conflicts later, the annual observance honors and remembers all who have died in battle in the Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The names of all Shelby County soldiers were read in a ceremonial roll call (21 in the Civil War, 16 in World War I, 132 in World War II, 9 in Korea, 10 in Vietnam, 1 in Iraq, and 2 in Afghanistan).

Joaquin High School Valedictorian Olivia Worsham read her Voice of Democracy Essay "Is Our Constitution Still Relevant," and concluded her talk by announcing her plans to enroll in the US Naval Academy this summer.

Mike Wood played bagpipes and Chris Watlington sang his recently-composed song,"Flags Over the Courthouse."