The 11th Annual Pelion Ruritan Veterans Memorial Day Service was held on Memorial Day.

Everyone braved the rain shower and enjoyed the event. President Angie Olawsky presided over the service. Ruritan Chaplain Joe Savage gave the invocation. Special music was performed by Soldiers of Faith and Bonnie Atwood and Life Springs Chimers.

The Pelion Band, under the direction of Thomas Finigan, presented patriotic music and the Military Medley. The guest speaker was LTC Scott J. Harr from Fort Jackson. The raising of the new flag ceremony was under the direction of David Mills and the American Legion Pelion Post 101, assisted by Ruritan member Steve Neese.

The wreath, donated by Shelly Laird, owner of Pine View Florist, was presented after the new flag was erected. The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department Honor Guard presented the 21-gun salute, and the event was closed with Hawk Betts playing TAPS.

A special thanks to everyone who braved the weather to attend the annual event, and the Pelion Ruritan looks forward to seeing everyone at the 2026 Memorial Event. 

The Memorial currently has a total of 388 engraved bricks, with the floor featuring 359 pavers and the granite band featuring 29 names of servicemen killed in action. Sponsors' names are listed on the engraved stone to the right of the memorial, along with a bronze plaque featuring the names of the original founding members of the memorial. Bricks are available for purchase and are placed each year during May.

April 15 of each year is the cutoff date to receive new brick forms. Any forms received after that date will not be placed until the following year.