Meridian and Lauderdale County residents gathered with current and former military service members at the East Mississippi Veterans Memorial Park on Friday for a Veterans Day Tribute recognizing the men and women of the U.S. armed forces.

Veterans Day, which was originally called Armistice Day, began as a celebration of the end of World War I, when allied and German forces stopped fighting on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. In 1938, Congress declared the day a federal holiday recognizing veterans of World War I, and in 1954 it was renamed Veterans Day and expanded to celebrate all military veterans.

Jeff Summerlin, president of the East Mississippi Veterans Memorial Foundation, which is building the veterans park said there is a price for the freedoms Americans enjoy, and those who serve in the military are the ones who pay it.

“The price of freedom is high,” he said. “We cannot forget those willing to pay it. Today we celebrate America’s veterans for keeping this nation the land oath free and the home of the brave.”

Friday’s Tribute took place at the Wall of Remembrance in the veterans park, which displays plaques honoring local veterans. Each plaque, Summerlin said, is custom made and is a great way to honor a family member or relative who has served.

Command Master Chief Craig Johnson, senior enlisted person on board Naval Air Station Meridian and keynote speaker for Friday’s ceremony, said the event also happened to fall on the 248th birthday of the United States Marine Corp. It was in World War I, he said, the marines earned the name “Devil Dog,” while fighting in Europe.

“They earned it because when the French were sitting there and running in the western front, when America came the Marines stood their ground, and they continued to push forward,” he said. “I’m proud the marines are in the Department of the Navy.”

Johnson said Veterans Day has a special meaning for him as he comes from a family with a legacy of service. His grandfather served in the Navy in World War II, and his father served in the Navy in Vietnam. Despite that, he said, joining the Navy was not his first choice.

“See, they didn’t have a college education, and I thought I was going to do better than them,” he said. “I vowed that I’d go to high school, have good grades, and I was going to go off and get college educated.”

In his junior year of college, however, Johnson dropped out. From there, he said he did a number of odd jobs including landscaping, truck driving and more. But the stories he had heard about Navy service growing up stuck with him.

“So in August of 1995, I went to the Navy recruiter’s office,” he said. “I only knew one thing. That one thing was I was going to do better than my father.”

After a career spanning 28 years, Johnson now helps the commanding officer on board NAS Meridian formulate policy and helps train the next generation of Navy leaders. He said he has no plans to retire and wants to continue serving until the Navy will no longer allow him to serve.

“Lastly, God bless America,” he said. “God bless Mississippi. God bless our families and on this day, God bless our veterans.”

Gold Star Mother Wilma Allen, whose son was killed in action, also spoke during Friday’s tribute as she and others in the community work to bring a Gold Star Families Memorial Monument to the Veterans Park. The Gold Star Families Memorial Monument recognizes and pays tribute to the family members and relatives of those killed while serving their country.

A committee to oversee the planning and fundraising efforts for the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument is in the process of being established. The monument, when added, will be the fourth such marker to be built in Mississippi.

For more information about the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument, contact Allen at 601-479-2508 or email wallen1019@aol.com.

For information about the East Mississippi Veterans Memorial Park, how to order a plaque or other ways to get involved, visit emsvf.org or contact Summerlin at 601-480-0293 or email emvmfoundation@gmail.com.