Veterans honored in Ocean Springs candle lighting ceremony

OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. (WXXV) — In honor of Veterans Day, 300 of candles are now lighting the path at the Mississippi Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Ocean Springs — honoring those who have served our nation and remembering those we have lost.

Members of the VFW, Boy Scouts, and community members came together to honor and appreciate the brave men and women who have served in the U.S. military.

The candle light ceremony included a prayer, moment of silence, and the singing of ‘America the Beautiful’ by individuals with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

“My husband is a veteran. My grandson is a veteran. My father was a veteran. So, it’s important to remember the people on their day,” said organizer Jean Coleman.

Veteran Jack Riley served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam from 1965-1966. He says he attended this memorial event because he’s proud of his service and wants to continue remembering others who served and paid the ultimate sacrifice. He shared a small piece of his story with us.

“I’m proud to have served a year in Vietnam. I can remember coming coming back. I flew out of Vietnam – I was discharged from the Army. They gave me an option. They said, ‘You can fly home in uniform, or you can fly home in civilian clothes.’ I was proud of what I did, so I flew in uniform,” said Riley. “You know, nobody would even talk to me on the plane. The stewardess just ignored me like I wasn’t there. And I thought that was very, very bad… I’m proud to have served and proud I could be here.”

This was the first year for the candle lighting memorial event, and organizer Jean Coleman says she hopes to continue it in the future.