SANDPOINT — From Lakeview to Pinecrest, from Priest River to Seneacquoteen, the community gathered to honor those who gave their lives in service to their country.

From the Revolutionary War to the ongoing war on terror, Memorial Day honors those from all branches of service who gave their lives so others could see the flag wave in peace, Bryan Holt told those gathered at Pinecrest on Monday morning

“Men and women from every race, every state, every background laid down their lives so that loved ones and mostly those who would never understand or appreciate that their young lives would be cut short,” said Hult, a retired brigadier general and the Bonner County Veterans Services officer. “Many of them never saw marriage, children, or grandchildren. Many of them said goodbye to their families and many months later died on a lonely island of Iwo Jima, the battle of Heartbreak Ridge or Hamburger Hill or the desert mountains of Afghanistan. How can we ever repay them for their devotion to duty, their love of country, their sacrifice for us?”

Memorial Day has its roots following the Civil War, when those on both sides gathered to honor the 750,000 lost — many from disease. It also honors the 116,000 lost in World War I, the 250,000 lost in World War II, the 36,000 in Korea and 58,000 lost in Vietnam. It honors those lost in the mountains of Afghanistan and the deserts of Iraq and the “thousands upon thousands in unnamed and named skirmishes that are just as important as those named already,” Hunt told those gathered.

“How many of them would have made great dads and moms? Grandpas and grandmas,” he asked. “How many of them would have gone on to college and served as doctors and merchants, chemists, and maybe even found a cure for cancer and other diseases that we battle today? How many of them would have been laborers, building America strong? Bridge builders, connecting people across our nation? Or volunteers at a myriad of hospitals, and schools, and nursing homes if their lives had not been cut short? How many honorable teachers would there have been who would have taught good morals, and honorable values to our children.”

Hunt told the 100-150 people gathered that he is reminded of the promises found in Hebrews 11, and the promise of the Declaration of Independence.

“It’s sobering for me to think how many dreams they would have had also. It’s sobering to me to think of their dreams of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness that they would have had,” he added. “Their dreams of a family, a comfortable life, a place to call home. Instead, they gave up those dreams and obeyed the call to arms. They are the heroes.”

As they think of those laid to rest in cemeteries around the world, and at those close to home, Hunt thanked the crowd for honoring those soldiers as they remember their deaths.

That message of sacrifice, of remembrance, was echoed by Jim Woodward, a 21-year Navy veteran, at Monday afternoon’s Memorial Day ceremony at Lakeview Cemetery.

“Those who have served in the armed services of the United States have paid for our freedom with their lives,” Woodward told those gathered. “When we arrive at a point in history, it is often helpful to look back to see how we have arrived there, to reflect on the path taken, marvel at the deeds and actions performed and to learn for the future.”

The country’s history starts with a war and has seen a number of additional conflicts since then, Woodward said, reciting the number of casualties of each of those conflicts starting with the Revolutionary War. After listing the numbers of those killled, he paused and added, “young promising lives lost to preserve our country and our freedom.”

In 1968, Memorial Day was established by an act of Congress as a national holiday, said Woodward.

“Let us take the time today to remember those lives lost, lost not in vain but lost prematurely,” he added. “Make sure the youngest in our society understand we are honoring U.S. military members who selflessly gave their lives for the preservation of our country, so we can continue to enjoy the freedoms and liberties of the best form of government known to mankind.”

Woodward encouraged those present to also remember those on the front lines today, and to pray for their safety.

“Remember the sailors, soldiers, airmen, marines in the United States military are present throughout the world making known that we stand for freedom and that we’ll fight for it,” he added. “For me, I’ll think of my Navy shipmate, a reservist on active duty stationed in Afghanistan, fighting in the war on terror, while his baby girl is at home growing up without him.”

He asked all to remember those who come home, under stress and wounded in spirit. “Please take to help those who have helped you. We honor those we have lost in battle, but we still have the opportunity to prevent other tragedies,” he said in closing.

Caroline Lobsinger can be reached by email at clobsinger@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @CarolDailyBee.