“Remembering Our Fallen” is the name of the photo exhibit that will be unveiled in Jackson on Sunday, April 19, to honor military men and women from Mississippi who have died either in Iraq or Afghanistan while serving our country.
There are five men from Pearl River County who will be honored in the exhibit.
They include Larry Arnold Sr. from Carriere, who was a member of the Army National Guard, Lerando Brown from Poplarville, who also served in the Army National Guard, Jerry “Chip” Burge Jr. from Carriere, who served with the United States Army, William James Donnelly IV from Picayune, who was a member of the United States Marine Corps and Carl Seigart from Picayune, who was a member of the United States Army.
These men paid the ultimate sacrifice fighting for our country’s freedom and that is something Colonel Todd Ryder, senior instructor of the NJROTC at Pearl River Central High School, said never goes unnoticed.
“Those who have sacrificed this much for our country, their sacrifice was certainly not in vain,” Ryder said.
Ryder began working for Pearl River Central High School in January 2012, after serving the country for 24 years as a United States Marine.
Ryder completed several tours in Iraq during his time in the Marine Corps, so he understands just how much a memorial like this means, not only to the family members, but also to the community.
“The fact that this is being done to honor the soldiers is so significant,” Ryder said.
There will be a private viewing of the exhibit for the family members of those being honored at 1 p.m. At 2 p.m. there will be an unveiling ceremony open to the public. The ceremony will take place in the War Memorial Building at 120 S. State Street in Jackson.