LOWNDES COUNTY — American Legion Post 13 in Valdosta and Post 218 in Hahira will hold concurrent Memorial Day services on Monday to honor all U.S. war veterans.

Today, beginning at 8 a.m., volunteers will help Valdosta’s American Legion Post 13 members put flags on the graves of U.S. veterans at Sunset Hill Cemetery. Ed Kent, current commander of Post 13, said some of the groups volunteering to put flags out this year are members of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp (JROTC) units from Valdosta High School and Lowndes High School, Girl Scouts of America, and others.

On Monday, starting at 10 a.m., Post 13 will hold its annual Memorial Day service to honor all U.S. war veterans. After the welcome, there will be an invocation by the post chaplain, followed by the Pledge Of Allegiance. Valdosta Mayor John Fretti will make some remarks, as will Lowndes County Board of Commissioners member G. Robert Carter.

Following each of their remarks, former Post 13 Commander Phil Youngblood will introduce guest speaker Brig. Gen. Michael A. Longoria, who serves as commander of the 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing at Moody Air Force Base.

The Valdosta Memorial Day service will conclude with a 21-gun salute by the Moody Air Force Base Honor Guard Rifle Team and the playing of Taps by Moody’s communications group, Kent said.

The Memorial Day service for Hahira’s American Legion Post 218 will begin at 11 a.m. on the steps of the Hahira Courthouse at 305 W. Main St., said former Post 218 commander Seab Miller.

Following a motivational speech by Post 218 incoming commander Tom Weldon, a wreath will be laid at the marker commemorating all U.S. war veterans. After the service, a light lunch will be served in the tobacco warehouse next door to the courthouse, sponsored by Citizens Community Bank, Commercial Banking Company, Wetherington Farms, the City of Hahira and Shiloh Flowers.

“They came from all walks of life and regions of the country,” the program from Valdosta’s Memorial Day service states. “But they all had one thing in common — love of and loyalty to country. This bond cemented ties between them in times of trials, allowing a diverse lot of Americans to achieve monumental ends.”