Cedartown vets gathered at the American Legion on the morning of Memorial Day after wet weather threatened their outside ceremony, but in the end the sun came out to shine on their efforts.

Lt. Col. Rick Hall was this year’s speaker at the American Legion Post 86’s annual remembrance of those who have sacrificed and given all for their country.

The retired Air Force officer spoke about many of those who were lost, but focused his efforts locally on the loss of a beloved local man who died in combat during the Vietnam War.

Lt. Col. Hall told the story of Roy Woods, who died while serving in Vietnam in 1968. He was on patrol one fateful night – taking the place of a fellow soldier – when he tripped an explosive device on the gate of a cemetery, where Vietcong used at the time to store weapons and supplies.

Woods was among the students in the gymnasium at Cedartown High School when the announcement was made in an assembly. While he didn’t know Woods all that well, the time he did spend with him on the football team (while Hall was a freshman) and in the halls of Cedartown High School were always positive for him.

Lt. Col. Hall noted that Woods was among the dozens of young men who have lost their lives while in service from Polk County, and asked attendees to keep their memories close to their hearts.

The annual service was supposed to be held in Veteran’s Memorial Park in Cedartown, but wet weather caused the ceremony to be moved indoors this year. Home Depot did provide some landscaping help ahead of the ceremony.