Prayers, patriotic songs and wreath layings marked a Sunday ceremony at Gainesville’s Rock Creek Veterans Park to remember Hall County’s fallen troops from World War I to the War on Terror.

Pointing to a brick monument containing the 168 veterans’ names, Vietnam War veteran Johnny Hulsey said, “All these years have come and gone by, and the ones who lost their lives have never been recognized (as a group) — and that’s hard to believe.”

“Thank God, (the veterans) are being recognized here today,” Hulsey said.

The breakdown is 18 from World War I, 108 from World War II, 12 from the Korean War, 28 from the Vietnam War and two from the War on Terror.

Veterans groups representing the Korean and Vietnam wars recognized their war dead by reading their names aloud. Roses were placed at each of the memorials to remember each one.

“It’s so refreshing to see so many veterans of these wars come out,” Korean War veteran Chuck Hendrickson said to the 100 or so gathered for the ceremony. “These (events) and memorials for our downed veterans are remarkable.”

In his closing prayer, veteran Ronnie Ransom also remembered the families of the fallen.

“Dear Lord, I hope we’ve made these men proud today, because they made us proud,” he said.

The largely somber ceremony was brightened by the big voice of 9-year-old Nealy Webster of Cleveland. She sang all the patriotic songs during the ceremony, including the official song of each of the armed forces, putting on the appropriate hat as she sang.

“I wish I had a voice like that girl,” Hendrickson said. “I’d sing my Air Force song, but I don’t guess I ought to.”

During the ceremony, American Legion Post 7 Commander Dave Dellinger also plugged Monday’s annual Memorial Day Parade organized by the post.

“It’s going to be bigger than ever, and this year, we’re making sure that it honors veterans and not politicians,” he said.