Iva Remembers Those Who Died Serving the Nation

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Despite the threat of thunder rand rain moving in Sunday afternoon, Iva marked Memorial Day weekend 2026 with a service honoring and remembering those from the town who lost their lives in service to their country.

“I had a chance here the Several weeks ago, to interview some boys at Crescent High School for Boy’s State and one of the questions I asked them was: “What does freedom actually mean to you?” said Ronnie McMahan, Commander of Iva American Legion Post 44. “A lot of them would say, well, that means I can go where I want to go, do what I want to do, work where I want to work. And a lot of people say, well, that means I can worship the way I want to, speak the way I want to without having a government interference and everything.”

His response reflected the meaning of Memorial Day.

“I said, to me, it means blood, sweat, and tears. I said, our cemetery is plowed with the graves of many soldiers that never made it to their 19th birthday. Their futures they never were able to enjoy like we do now because they paid that ultimate sacrifice. So, Memorial Day, even though in Veterans Day we honor all the ones that put on a uniform and serve the country, but this day We honor the ones that paid that supreme sacrifice. That means more to me than anything else. I lost five good friends of mine in Vietnam. And I got a chance to go to Washington several years ago and I walked down that wall and I put my finger on every last one of those men's names. That was a moment I'll never forget.”