Remembering the lives of those who served brought together community leaders with veterans and families on Friday morning to honor military service and memories during a ceremony at Veterans and Volunteers Plaza in Valparaiso, as a prelude to Memorial Day Weekend.

“There are a number of people in dark clothes, and wearing black this morning, as a way to pay respect, but I decided to wear my red, white and blue clothing today,” said Becky Kirkpatrick, who attended the ceremony with her friend, Debi Oelling, both of Valparaiso.

“My friend Debi also wore her red, white and blue today. I lived in Hong Kong for a number of years and I’ve been other places in the world, but I’m always proudest to be an American and part of this country that fights for freedom.”

Valparaiso Matt Murphy, whose father had military service during the Vietnam War, joined veteran Don Clark and Congressman Frank Mrvan in placing a floral wreath at the base of the “Duty and Sacrifice” wall monument at Service Memorial Plaza, which was erected and unveiled in 2003 at Foundation Meadows Park in Valparaiso.

The ceremony was hosted by John Seibert, director of parks and recreation and presented by the Valparaiso Parks Foundation.

“There are four granite monuments represented at this plaza around our fountain, each distinguished by the engraved words ‘Hope,’ ‘Charity,’ ‘Friendship’ and our largest monument with engraved names, which reads ‘Duty and Sacrifice,’ all representing lives of kindness and selflessness,” Seibert said.

Mrvan said he was pleased to see children attending the Friday ceremony with their parents.

“I want to recognize those families today who brought their children to be part of this event,” Mrvan said from the podium, addressing the more than 100 people who attended.

“Our freedoms are not free, and with those freedoms comes sacrifice. Having our children understand about our country’s history and fighting for freedom is a great, great thing. We are all stronger when we are not divided.”U.S. Navy Veteran Jim Spanopoulos, 80, of Chesterton did the ceremonial reading of the names engraved on the “Duty and Sacrifice” wall monument, reminding how many lives were lost during the Vietnam conflict which he was part of between 1966 and ’67.

“My time in service spanned from 1958 to 1967, including my time on the USS FDR CVPA 42 aircraft carrier,” Spanopoulos said.

In addition to the Presentation and Retirement of Colors by Valparaiso Police Honor Guard, Pastor Rich Schmidt of Living Hope Community Church said the closing benediction.

U.S. Army Veteran Lenny Corso, 76, of Valparaiso, who assisted with the reading of names on the monument, reflected on his own years of service.

“I was a Green Beret medic and I met so many good men and women serving our great country,” Corso said.

“During my time of service, I was stationed in Fort Knox, Kentucky and also Fort Bragg, North Carolina as well as time in Texas and Georgia. Not only do I think about and reflect on my fellow men and women of service every Memorial Day, I think about them every day, and what they represent for our great country.”

Phil Potempa is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.