Some debts can never be repaid. Some respects shown are never enough. Some honors barely capture the true heroism behind the story.

But, each year, our community — and communities across the nation — honor the men and women who have bravely answered the call of duty and served our nation proudly, or continue to do so today, in the armed services.

No one needs to tell Lawrence Countians how to celebrate Memorial Day. We understand this perhaps better than many others, marking the event with a variety of celebrations and ceremonies that culminate with the longest continuously running Memorial Day Parade in the nation.

Memorial Day is a big deal here.

And it should be.

Even all of the ancillary events and celebrations cannot diminish the real reason for the holiday. All the marching bands, cook outs, dancing groups and other spectacles can all be a part of the celebration, but should never be the celebration itself.

Patriotism here never wanes and never wavers, regardless of individual politics or perceptions.

Many sons and daughters of Lawrence County and the Tri-State have served proudly, helping safeguard our way of life and the freedoms that we hold so dear.

Without our soldiers, our nation would not be what it is today. Our world would not be what it is today.