Patriotism has always run deep in Lawrence County with thousands of our sons and daughters answering the call to duty over the years. Although it is always visible, this American pride will be on full display this week.

The next nine days are important ones here as our community gathers for a variety of events that honor and pay respect to the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.

Each of these ceremonies or events are important in its own right as they help bring the community closer together and show that we have not forgotten our heroes.

The celebration starts at 7 p.m. Thursday with Navy Night, the annual event honoring our seafaring branches of the Armed Services.

The Woodland Cemetery service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Of course, the events culminate with the 145th annual Ironton-Lawrence County Memorial Day Parade, the longest continuously running event of its kind in the entire nation.

There will also be a host of other smaller activities to honor veterans and promote community spirit.

This should be a week of celebrating the past, reveling in the present and looking ahead to our future.