Remembering Local Heroes

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — “We have men and women all over the country that are giving their lives daily for what we want daily,” says John Javis, who attended a Memorial Day ceremony at the Piney Grove Road Cemetery. Monday, in the midst of busy Memorial Day traffic, several people gathered to remember. Among them, Edward Blocker, he has four brothers buried in the Piney Grove Road Cemetery. Two of Blocker’s brothers fought in the Korean War, another in World War II and his brother Charles, who was honored at Monday’s ceremony fought in Vietnam. “I’m here and they are gone. It’s just kind of sad and special at the same time,” says Edward Blocker. Monday, Blocker placed the wreath made for his brother by this grave. “It’s an honor, it’s an honor,” says Blocker Also on hand, three young boys getting a life lesson. “At that age, I didn’t get this experience. As a teenager, I started to understand exactly what it was to pay tribute to the Veterans. I want them to understand a little bit earlier,” says Javis And Javis did just that by taking his two sons Evan and John, along with his nephew Morgan, to place American flags on the graves of soldiers. It’s been a tradition for the past five years. Javis says he has memories from years past. “My grandfather, he’s out here and he’s a Veteran. Just to come out here and put a flag on him and listen to one of the stories growing up,” says Javis Now, Javis’ children are listening to him and learning why they are putting these flags on the graves. But, Javis says in the midst of it all he thinks of his own Veteran. “It kind of brings a tear to my eye to have to put a flag on my grandfather and not be able to have the same conversations with him and not for him to be able to give them to my kids,” says Javis.