VIDALIA, La. &045; The green military uniform worn by veteran Joe Whitley for the Memorial Day activities on Monday went beyond general representation of his term in duty.

Whitley wore the jacket of his father, a 28-year veteran who was unable to participate due to eye surgery, and the military hat of his cousin-in-law who is stationed in Iraq as a symbol of their presence.

Crowds of children and adults were gathered around Whitley as he carried a wrinkled American flag in the Memorial Day parade at the Natchez Visitor’s Center.

&uot;I’ve been carrying this flag for 25 years,&uot; he said.

Whitley served in the military from 1980-1987, and has carried the American flag during his military career and in the Memorial Day parade every year since he moved back to Vidalia.

Frank Williams, a veteran of WWII and 2nd commander of the American Legion Post 590 in Vidalia, made a cheerful nod to the multitude of children around him that were practicing their march routine and playing on their instruments.

Though his face was a reflection of satisfaction, he disapproved of the soldiers of Natchez and Vidalia who did not attend. Williams said many soldiers don’t come out to the service. &uot;I’d rather have unity than strength,&uot; he said.

But you’d be hard pressed to find many as faithful to the Vidalia Memorial Day parade as Robert Davis.

Monday Davis &045; along with other members of Tri-Stone Lodge 137, a local Masonic lodge &045; was readying two floats the organization sponsored in what was previously an all-marching parade.

But Davis said he’s actually been participating in the event since he was a student at the old Concord High in 1971. He then believed in honoring soldiers, those alive and those who have died, and said he believes in it now.

&uot;And I’m still playing the same drums,&uot; Davis said with a smile.

Davis was one of dozens who lined the Magnolia Street to line up to march in the parade, from the elderly to toddlers holding their mothers’ hands to youth playing alongside Davis in the Memorial Day band.

The event, now in its 80th year, also has another significance for the small Louisiana town. &uot;In Vidalia, this is just tradition,&uot; he said.

&uot;We’re here for the fallen soldiers, because we love them,&uot; Rhonda Bell said.

Many attendees, if they didn’t know someone who died in a war, knew at least one &045; sometimes several &045; relatives or friends who had served in the military.

For example, Tri-Stone Lodge 137 Worshipful Master Louis Banks’ father and grandfather served in the military.

One brother is retiring after 19 years in the military, while another is waiting to see if he will be sent to Iraq. A niece and nephew have also served in the Middle East.

While such soldiers make sacrifices of their own, Monday was for those who served their country and gave the ultimate sacrifice &045; their very lives, Banks said.

&uot;This,&uot; he said, &uot;is for the fallen soldiers.&uot;

The parade marched from Magnolia Street up Carter Street in Vidalia and across the Mississippi River bridge to continue in Natchez to a ceremony at the National Cemetery.

At the cemetery gates Cerita Brown and her daughter Laura Williams sat remembering many parades past. Neither can describe growing up in their neighborhood without the mention of the annual Memorial Day parade and ceremony.

Williams said there were fewer people at this year’s parade than in the past.

&uot;You couldn’t see the tombstones, there were so many people,&uot; she said of the parade 10 years ago.

As her mom waved and said hello to almost everyone who passed by her, Williams explained that the ceremony was both a joyous reunion of friends and family and a sorrowful remembrance of death for her mother. Brown’s four brothers and one sister are all buried in the National Cemetery.

Huddled in a white tent across from the cemetery at the Memorial Day ceremony, Vidalia Mayor Hyram Copeland gave the proclamation for the city of Vidalia.

Before the official declaration, Copeland spoke about the men who carried the American flags during the parade and ceremony.

&uot;How precious is that flag to our memories,&uot; he said.