Lawrence Countians gathered at Center Street Landing last night to honor those men and women who have served their country in the sea-going branches of the military.

The annual Navy Night ceremony is the first of the area's Memorial Day observances.

"We thank you that you have blessed our nation with freedom and liberty," the Rev. Dave Schug of Woodland Chapel prayed in his invocation. "We thank you for the men and women who have served our country."

The keynote speaker for the evening was Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Walker, who began his command of the U.S. Naval Reserves Center in Huntington, W.Va., on May 17. The Navy Night service was one of his first public appearances since taking over the responsibility of that office.

"We remember as we honor our men and women in uniform that patriotism carries a high price," Walker said in his speech. "Freedom isn't free. It must be fought for to achieve and fought for to keep, and many have paid the ultimate price. Our fallen heroes have done their duty and they have left us with a legacy to do ours with no less passion and no less commitment."

As the Symmes Valley High School marching band played "The Naval Hymn," Girl Scouts from the Iron Hills Wilderness Road Girl Scout troop showered rose petals on the waters of the Ohio River and the U.S. Coast Guard dropped a wreath in the water from a boat off shore.

Ironton Mayor Bob Cleary proclaimed yesterday evening as officially Navy Night in the city. The ceremony drew a crowd of approximately 250 people.