Story By John Mann

Despite the weather forcing a move from Veteran’s Park to the Recreation Center the City of Guntersville hosted their Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, paying tribute to fallen armed forces members and hearing the personal story of one such veteran’s son.

“Although the weather is not great it does not lessen the importance of why we are here,” Air Force veteran, city council member and master of ceremonies Dr. Pete Sparks said. “And of course that is to honor and mourn the military personnel that dies while serving our country in the United States armed forces.”

After the opening prayer by city councilman Richard Manley the program began with a live singing of the national anthem by the quartet of Tim Hays, Lynn Holifield (USAF), Mac Hollaway (US Army Reserve) and Ken Patterson. Guntersville Mayor Leigh Dollar then took the stage to give her remarks on the importance of Memorial Day not just within the city or Marshall County, but the United States as a whole.

“Today as we gather on Memorial Day we pause not for celebration alone, but more importantly remembrance,” Mayor Dollar said. “Memorial Day is a sacred day in the United States, a time to honor the brave men and women of our armed forces who gave their lives in service to our nation. Their sacrifice purchased the freedoms we enjoy every day, the freedom to speak openly, to worship freely, to raise our families in peace and to pursue our dreams. Today we remember soldiers who never returned home, we remember families who carry the burden of loss, and we remember that liberty is rarely ever free.”

Guest speaker for the ceremony was lifelong resident of Marshall County Jason Scheidegger, a 1995 graduate of Guntersville High School and the son of Marine Corps and Army veteran Staff Sergeant Gary Epps. 

Epps was born on May 22, 1954, and grew up in Douglas. He began his military career with the United States Marine Corps in 1973 and was part of the 2nd Recon Battalion, Charlie Company. Epps finished his enlistment in 1977 and returned home but still felt the call to serve.

“It didn’t take dad long to realize he just wasn’t cut out for civilian life anymore and he longed to return to the military,” Scheidegger said. “In 1978 dad reenlisted in the United States Army where he was attached to the 2nd 325th Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division. My father loved being a soldier more than anything in this world with his family being the one exception.”

Epps was called to return to base on the evening of October 24, 1983, to take part in the United States invasion of Grenada, a Caribbean island undergoing a Communist revolt. The mission was Operation Urgent Fury, and 7300 American troops were involved. Epps’s division arrived on October 25 under heavy fire, and in the morning hours of October 26 he was killed in action by enemy ordinance. His body was returned home shortly after, where he was interred at Rehobeth Cemetery in Guntersville. At the time, his son was eight years old.

“My dad bled green,” Scheidegger said. “He was laid to rest in his Marine Corps dress blues on November 6, 1983, at Rehobeth Cemetery. While I don’t remember much of that day they told me that the streets from Carr Funeral Home all the way to Rehobeth were lined with veterans saluting and the citizens of Marshall County holding their hands over their hearts.”

After hearing Scheidegger’s story Dr. Sparks called on the crowd to shout out the names of family members and friends who died in service to the United States, followed by a rifle salute and the laying of the wreath. The ceremony closed with one last performance by Gunter, Holifield, Hollaway and Patterson, this time singing “God Bless America.”

Though Memorial Day is officially recognized as a one day a year ceremony, for those who knew a fallen veteran, or were related to a fallen veteran, it’s a year-long remembrance of service and sacrifice.

“For me Memorial Day never ends,” Scheidegger said. “Every day for the last forty-two years has been Memorial Day for me. Every day I am reminded of the brave sacrifice these service members have made for all of us. For many of us Memorial Day doesn’t begin at sunrise, or end at sunset, on the last Monday of May.”