David Bush and Delbert Brannon salute as Margie Stockton sings the National Anthem.

Memorial Day is always a busy day for American Legion Post #187. Year in and year out, the Post has faithfully conducted ceremonies at three locations in the county in remembrance of those who have served the cause of freedom. On Monday, May 26, the Post’s day began at the War Memorial at Winfield at 10 a.m. The Post was at Valley View Memorial Park in Hurricane at noon and at Haven of Rest in Red House at 2:30 p.m.

The usual ceremony consists of prayer, a history of relating to Memorial Day, a 3-gun volley, followed by the playing of Taps. The observation at Valley View included the singing of the National Anthem by Margie Stockton of Charleston.

The history presentation was by David Bush with prayer by Delbert Brannon. Dick Stockton sounded Taps.

The 3-gun volley at Valley View was executed by seven members. Although seven rifles were fired three times (a total of 21 rounds), the ceremony is not a 21-gun salute. Three, not 21, is the significant number. The significance of the number three is stated in American Legion literature. The three comes from a practice during the Roman era following a day of battle. When the field of battle was cleared, if the soldier removing the slain soldier knew the name of the dead, then he would call out his name three times in remembrance the ultimate sacrifice.

During the last twenty years, American Legion Post #187 has called out the names of the dead more than seven thousand times.