Anson County celebrated Veterans Day with a parade, ceremony and activities on Nov. 11.

A small crowd lined up to watch a short parade featuring children from the HOLLA Center in Morven, riders from the Charlotte chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club, a Veterans Affairs mobile team from Greenville and more.

After the parade, the crowd gathered in front of the Anson County Courthouse for the annual ceremony. Army veteran Shelton R. Spencer sang the national anthem and “America, the Beautiful” and James Bennett, commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10403, led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Retired Army Maj. Todd Showalter was the keynote speaker at the ceremony, thanking Anson County for its support of military veterans.

Showalter expressed gratitude not to only the service members and veterans, but to their families, recognizing their sacrifices.

The retired major also stressed the importance of military service both to the country and to individual service members.

“The choice one makes to serve their country does not come easy,” Showalter said. “It’s changing their life, leaving their home and their loved ones behind. It profoundly changes your character and directs your way of life. It demands excellence. It demands commitment and perseverance. It requires integrity, the type of integrity that if you make a mistake, you stand up and you admit that you made a mistake, you’ll correct that mistake and do better next time.”

Life in the military hones a service member’s personality, he said.

“It demands a willingness to accept challenges, challenges above and beyond what you might imagine,” Showalter said. “But there are challenges that are achievable. It demands loyalty, a loyalty to your country, to your military and to your loved ones at home. These changes in your character and your shared experiences form a bond with your fellow service members, a bond like no other bond. I can honestly say that the time I spent as a member of the United States military is some of the best times of my life. That service will stay with me and define me until the day I die.”

After the ceremony, people gathered at the Ray Shelton Ball Field for activities, including free flu shots and health care registration and information provided by Veterans Affairs.

Reach reporter Imari Scarbrough at 704-994-5471 and follow her on Twitter @ImariScarbrough.

A veteran drives through the parade, waving at the crowd.
https://ansonrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_IMG_2586.jpgA veteran drives through the parade, waving at the crowd.

Children from Morven’s HOLLA Center participate in the Veterans Day parade Nov. 11.
https://ansonrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_IMG_2636.jpgChildren from Morven’s HOLLA Center participate in the Veterans Day parade Nov. 11.

Sheriff Landric Reid shakes hands with a service member during the parade.
https://ansonrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_IMG_2601.jpgSheriff Landric Reid shakes hands with a service member during the parade.

Veterans bow their heads in prayer during the ceremony at the Anson County courthouse.
https://ansonrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_IMG_2665.jpgVeterans bow their heads in prayer during the ceremony at the Anson County courthouse.

A crowd of residents and veterans recite the Pledge of Allegiance during the Nov. 11 ceremony.
https://ansonrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_IMG_2684.jpgA crowd of residents and veterans recite the Pledge of Allegiance during the Nov. 11 ceremony.

Retired Army Maj. Todd Showalter spoke of the character developed by serving in the United States military.
https://ansonrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_IMG_2736.jpgRetired Army Maj. Todd Showalter spoke of the character developed by serving in the United States military.

Members of the United States Army presented Wadesboro Mayor Pro-tem James David Lee with an award recognizing the town’s cooperation in providing a place for the Army to conduct the Robin Sage exercise, which is required for those joining the Green Berets.
https://ansonrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_IMG_2742.jpgMembers of the United States Army presented Wadesboro Mayor Pro-tem James David Lee with an award recognizing the town’s cooperation in providing a place for the Army to conduct the Robin Sage exercise, which is required for those joining the Green Berets.

A live wreath was laid at the county’s memorial to fallen veterans.
https://ansonrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_IMG_2780.jpgA live wreath was laid at the county’s memorial to fallen veterans.

A young boy leads children from Morven’s HOLLA Center in the Veterans Day parade.
https://ansonrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_IMG_2638.jpgA young boy leads children from Morven’s HOLLA Center in the Veterans Day parade.

By Imari Scarbrough

iscarbrough@civitasmedia.com