Parkersburg, W.Va. (May 31, 2022) – The West Virginia University at Parkersburg Veterans Corps hosted a Memorial Day Celebration May 27 on campus. The ceremony can be rewatched on WVU Parkersburg’s Facebook page.

“[On Memorial Day], we mourn as we try to continue to heal. We go forth and honor our brothers and sisters in arms by living a life worth their sacrifice, because their cost is truly greater than I,” said Jared Smith, WVU Parkersburg Veteran Corps student president. “We say their name, so we may not forget the cost of a free nation and a government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from this Earth. May we honor their sacrifice and celebrate their legacy.”

The ceremony honored the 7% of Americans that have served in the United States Armed Forces, but no longer walk among us with a reading of General John A. Logan’s Memorial Day Order, a poem and personal messages for the Veterans Corps.

2021 National MCL Marine of the Year, Scott Kirby, was the keynote speaker for the Memorial Day Ceremony.

“Memorial Day is completely different from Veterans Day and Armed Forces Day,” Kirby said. Armed Forces Day is a day to celebrate those who are currently wearing the uniform. Veterans Day is a day to celebrate those who have served and have hung up their uniform. Memorial Day is a day we honor and remember those who never made it back to hang up their uniform.”

Kirby shared the three monuments in the Mid-Ohio Valley where people can go to honor Veterans: in Parkersburg at City Park, in Vienna at Spencer’s Landing and in Marietta at Harmar Village.

For more information or to become a WVU Parkersburg Veterans Corps member, please contact Darren Shearlock at darren.shearlock@wvup.edu or 304-424-8000 ext. 337.