YORKTOWN — Historic Grace Episcopal Church in Yorktown held its annual Veterans Day Service On Monday, Nov. 11.
According to the Grace Church Cemetery Committee, Rev. Seldon Walker was the celebrant at the historic, circa 1697 church. Readers included Sandy Armstrong, U.S. Navy veteran Jerry Twigg, and U.S. Air Force veteran Tom Richmond. U.S. Air Force and Vietnam veteran Al Crane provided remarks and reflections on Veterans Day and his experiences from the October Old Dominion Honor Flight mission seven to the Museum of the U.S. Marine Corps in Quantico; the World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War Memorials and Arlington National Cemetery. Suzanne Daniel provided the accompanying patriotic music program and hymns.
Following the service, the committee noted U.S. Army Veteran Patrick Washburn read the names of the 113 known veterans — encompassing the Revolutionary War, Civil War, First and Second World Wars, the Cold War, Korean War and Vietnam — who are buried in the Grace cemetery. Each grave of known veterans buried in the church cemetery has a veterans marker and U.S. flag.
The historic circa 1725 church bell was tolled 21 times as part of the nationwide “Bells of Peace” initiative by U.S. Air Force Veteran Rachel Vis, Old Dominion Honor Flight and Lois Winter Grace Church parishioner, to honor men and women who have served the country in uniform.
All participants were provided with a poppy pin and service bulletin with the names and brief biographies of veterans buried in the cemetery.
