Several community members gathered Monday at Oak Hill North Cemetery for the annual Memorial Day service. Crawfordsville Mayor Todd Barton read a proclamation encouraging residents to pause, remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation.
Carl Binford was the featured speaker. He was born in Montgomery County and resided near Linden on a dairy farm. He earned a bachelor’s degree in 1976 form Purdue University and enlisted in the Air Force 1980. He become a pilot in 1981 and has flown more than 3,500 hours during the course of 24 years. He retired from the Air Force in 2005 with the rank of major. He and his wife raised four children. One their children is currently serving in the Army.
Binford spoke of the general population’s increasing misunderstanding of the national holiday. He stressed the focus should remain on the more than 1.3 million men and women who have died in battle or non-combat related causes in service to the country. He also urged citizens to focus on those families left behind and their pathway to peace.
