CRESTVIEW — On Monday, members of the community gathered at Live Oak Park Memorial Cemetery to pay respects to our fallen soldiers who called Crestview home.
Joe Crooke gave the Memorial Day address. Crooke never served in the military himself but has always been surrounded by people who had. That includes his father, who served in World War II, and two of his sons who are currently serving in the military. Crooke’s youngest son had the opportunity to be sworn in by his grandfather.
“Up to the moment my son was about to be sworn in,” Crooke said, "my father was trying to convince him to join the Air Force.”
Crooke closed his speech by thanking his late father for all his service.
The ceremony closed with the placing of wreaths. About 15 organizations, including City of Crestview and the Crestview Police Department, placed wreaths on the monument located in the middle of the cemetery.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview residents lay wreaths for Memorial Day