Macon County honors Pearl Harbor veterans at Lake Decatur ceremony

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — Pearl Harbor — the 82-year-old sneak attack killing more than 2,000 service members. Organizations across Macon County came together Sunday at Lake Decatur to honor the lives lost and the sacrifice of veterans.

"Freedom is not free of all the people that have fought for this country," said Macon County Honor Guard Commander Tommy Black.

Community members and veterans joined the Macon County Honor Guard in a wreath ceremony. The commemoration has been held for about a decade.

Black served in the Army in Vietnam during the 1960's.

"The wreath is a symbol of the people that lost their lives. It shows that we honor them, and we also honor the ones that the Lord saved that day, to come back and to make our nation stronger," said Black.

William Hanes is an Air Force veteran and the president of the Macon County VA. He said Japanese planes destroyed much more than military vessels.

"During the dark days of World War Two, a lot of people didn't know if we were going to win this war. They just persevered," said Hanes.

This tradition aims to remind people to never forget the lives of fallen soldiers who fought to protect the United States.