Local veterans, family, and residents gathered at the DeKalb County Courthouse on Monday, to remember fallen soldiers and honor current and past veterans of the United States Armed Forces. The program featured patriotic music, prayers, and the traditional laying of the wreath at the Veterans’ Memorial.

Susan Hinton and the Smithville/DeKalb Community Chorus entertained the crowd with several patriotic songs, before Larry Green led the crowd in prayer.

Afterwards, Jan Thomas read a poem, The American's Creed, written by William Tyler Page in 1917, and accepted by the United States House of Representatives on April 3, 1918.

“I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed, a democracy in a republic, a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.”

“I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies.”

After, Mrs. Faye Fuqua led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the playing of “Taps” by Josh Moon of the DeKalb County High School Fighting Tiger Band.

Local veterans then gathered, laying a wreath at the Veteran’s Memorial.