The dedication of volunteers who put in countless hours to the Ironton-Lawrence County Memorial Day Parade was praised at this year’s Past Grand Marshal Dinner.

The dinner is the traditional start to the weeklong celebration culminating in the Monday parade, the longest-continuous running Memorial Day parade in the nation.

“I’ve been blessed and everyone in our county has been blessed by you,” former Lawrence County Common Pleas Judge Richard Walton told the audience as the Tuesday night keynote speaker. “This is the kind of work you don’t get praised for, don’t get paid for. It’s the kind of work that gets the job done.”

About four years ago, Walton was the Honorary Grand Marshal, which he called one of the most overwhelming and humbling experiences.

“You are volunteers who give up your leisure time and money for causes greater than yourself,” he said. “No where is there a group that goes back to 1868 that has stayed the course, has stayed in there like the parade group.”

Brent Pyles, a former Grand Marshal, was the night’s master of ceremonies at the dinner held at the Knights of Columbus banquet hall.

“The purpose of the parade committee is to memorialize those who gave their lives to defend our freedom,” Pyles said. “We appreciate their service.”

This year’s parade theme is “For Our Troops and Family.”

Honored at the dinner were this year’s Parade Commander, Laura Brown, Honorary Grand Marshal Hardy Barker and 2014 Grand Marshal Kalynda Cloud, who was presented the traditional cane by carver Charlie Cook.

“This is truly an honor for me and for my family,” Cloud said. “What it means to be on this committee is to be respected. I’ve found some really good friends. I am going to do my best to uphold being Grand Marshal of 2014. I am blessed to live in place where I am free.”