American military veterans were honored for their sacrifices and contributions to the nation yesterday at a ceremony held at Veterans’ Park.

During the ceremony that started at 11 a.m. Tuesday, veterans of Beaufort County and beyond were recognized and honored for their service. Led by the American Legion Auxiliary Unit No. 15, the service commenced with the singing of the National Anthem by Theresa Taylor and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all present.

Bob Paciocco, a Navy chaplain who served in Vietnam with Marines, served as the ceremony’s keynote speaker, in which he spoke about his service in the United States military, as well as the meaning behind Veterans’ Day.

“We give thanks to these men and women who are willing to contribute and sacrifice,” Paciocco said. “We remember those who we left behind, as well.”

Paciocco told several somber stories about his service as a chaplain during wartime, but also brightened the mood on several instances with a humorous comment. After the ceremony, he went on to say that Veterans’ Day services are meaningful in the sense that they remind those who have benefitted from the sacrifices and services of others what it is that veterans do or have done.

“It’s always a privilege to come out to this and be with these people,” Paciocco said. “These are meaningful services. Too often, we just don’t remember what the veterans have gone through, and it’s hard to realize what they’ve gone through unless you’ve gone through it yourself. It’s hard to explain to someone, ‘what I do,’ or ‘what I did,’ but it makes you very proud of it.

“Being a Christian, you know those who love the Lord are in His care. Sometime I would have to deal with one that didn’t seem to be a Christian at all and yet, I still wanted to contact the family and let them know — if I was with him when he died — that he had a minister with him when he died, and you hope to give them some kind of peace. But I’m very proud.”

Also during the ceremony, veterans were honored and remembered by being identified for their service during the program. Families and friends of each veteran were able to have a card honoring that individual attached to an American flag and displayed at the park. The flags are now on sale and can be purchased by calling Betsy Lee Hodges, president of Unit No. 15, at 252-975-4790. After the ceremony, Hodges spoke about what the service meant to her and ways people could honor a veteran.

“To me, it’s a time to remember veterans and to say thank you and recognize them, whether you do the flag, whether you do the handshake, whether you do a little prayer, whether you just remember them — whatever you do, today in particular, so folks won’t forget what Veterans’ Day is,” Hodges said.

Four flags were properly disposed of during the service in remembrance and honor of veterans and service personnel from World War II to current conflicts, and before the closing of the service, veterans and active-duty military personnel were recognized by standing when music representing their respective branch of service was played.