Military service men and women were honored around the state Tuesday in recognition of Veterans Day.
Front row seating at the Veterans Day ceremony at the Monroe County courthouse was reserved for World War II veterans.
Ret. Col. Turner Nolan organized the event and says he wanted to make a distinct effort to honor their service.
"We don't have that much time left to thank them for preserving our freedom," he says.
Nolan says many people don't understand the importance of the role World War Two vets played in American history.
"There was a time when our freedom was teetering in the balance, and it was these folks when they called them to war — and we lost many of them," Nolan says.
During the ceremony, Nolan recounted each World War II veteran's accomplishments and experiences one by one.
All were met with applause, and, after's the ceremony's conclusion, handshakes.