More than 150 people showed up on a warm Saturday for Goochland County’s annual Memorial Day Service at Goochland Courthouse, hosted by American Legion Post 215.

Guest of Honor State Senator Walter Stosch, U.S. Army veteran, set the tone of the day with his address to the crowd.

“I have a theme that I want to share with you,” said Stosch. “I brought a prop with me. It says, remember those who served, all gave some, some gave all,” said Stosch.

“Many of us fall into the first category,” said Stosch. “Whatever that gift is that you made, your nation is better for it,” he said, whether it was their own military service or the loss of a loved one.

Stosch noted that Memorial Day marks the beginning of three successive national holidays in close succession, as it is followed by Flag Day on June 14 and then the July 4th.

Commented on the meaning of the flag, Stosch said the flag’s colors are unofficially understood to represent certain qualities: white for purity, blue for faithfulness and red for the sacrifice of blood.

“Although we are not a nation pure and without fault, make no mistake about it, we are still the finest nation on earth,” said Stosch.

“Some of our brightest and best women and men still volunteer and put themselves in harm’s way around the globe for liberty and justice,” Stosch reminded the crowd.

Along with the keynote address, the ceremony included the presentation of the colors by the U.S. Army Color Guard of the Headquarters Company of the 84th Division, 80th Training Command, singing of the National Anthem by the Dockside Harmony Quartet and an invocation and benediction by Rev. Jeffrey Spence.

The Ladies Auxiliary of Post 215 laid a wreath at the monument honoring the fallen at the courthouse.

At the end of the ceremony former Legion 13th District Commander played Taps as he has done for several years as service members and veterans saluted.

One veteran and Post 215 member recalled his days in the Army during WWII.

Ninety- year-old O.L. Wilson volunteered and served in the 302nd Regiment in North Africa, Sicily and Italy, and was on his way to the Pacific theater when the atom bomb brought the war to a close.

“We didn’t quite make it to the Pacific,” said Ligon, who served from 1942 to 1945.

Post 215 Commander Matt Kalan said he was pleased with the turnout.

“We had more folks than last year,” he said, “and more adults.”

Kalan said that the ceremony’s theme was in keeping with the meaning of Memorial Day.

“It’s for the ones who have passed.” he said.