Remembering those who gave all

By Delayna Earley

The Island News

BEAUFORT

Beaufort’s annual Memorial Day parade was held on Monday, May 29, 2023, followed by a ceremony at the Beaufort National Cemetery to remember all the men and women who have served and died in service to the United States of America.

The parade took the traditional route through downtown Beaufort and ended at Beaufort National Cemetery.

The Marine Corps Color Guard – Lance Cpl. Sharlen Hernandez, Sgt. Latoya Silva, Cpl. Mercedes Nava-Escalona and Lance Cpl. Rayssa Deoliveira – followed by the Parris Island Marine Band, takes the traditional lead of the annual Memorial Day Parade on Monday down Boundary Street. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

The commemoration at the cemetery featured a wreath-laying ceremony, a moment of silence, and the playing of Taps, as well as words from keynote speaker Sara Kindschuh, a forensic anthropologist with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.

The Schanwecker family, Andrew and Lindsay with MacKensie, 7 and Bennett, 5, put out mini American Flags at the headstones Friday, May 26, in preparation for annual observance of Memorial Day. The Schanweckers said they homeschool their children and incorporated a civics lesson while giving back to the community by placing the flags. Bob Sofaly/The Island News

This year’s Memorial Day weekend was plagued by a low pressure system off of the Southeast coast that brought heavy rain and strong winds throughout the area on Friday and Saturday, but by Sunday and Monday the rain had mostly cleared away.