Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12190 hosted a wreath-laying ceremony Thursday, Nov. 11 at Columbia County Memorial Garden Park in Evans.
Post commander Matt Andrews, who served in Iraq while in the Army, presided as several service members and their families gathered before the Columbia County Military Memorial Wall.
In his address, Andrews discussed the history of the VFW, emphasizing it as an organization in which servicemembers support one another.
“Our strength is in our numbers,” said Andrews. “Our strength is in our desire to serve each other.”
The ceremony is an annual tradition of the Evans VFW post that began in 2019. The county provided the podium and seating along with allowing the locale at the memorial wall.
Andrews notes that in the short time the VFW has held the ceremony in Evans, the response from veterans has been positive, especially as the post eagerly seeks new members.
“It’s definitely growing,” he said. “And the post itself is growing. I think the first time we did it, there were about 10 or 15 people here.”
Before the laying of the wreath for fallen soldiers, there was a playing of “Taps” and an invocation by post chaplain Bob Willis.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering Columbia County with The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
