Even in the midst of the worst conditions a person could experience, Lance Lechlitner never forgot what it meant to defend his country.

“Less than one percent of the able-bodied nation serves in the U.S. Military,” Lechlitner said. “And we do it proudly. We do it without question. We do it to come home on leave, to see your smiling faces and to maybe get a few thank-yous.”

Lechlitner was the guest speaker at this year’s annual Memorial Day celebration, which took place Monday morning. A recently retired veteran of the U.S. Air Force and Army, the Dowagiac native shared his perspective on the importance of remembering the service of the men and women who give up their civilian lives for a greater cause.

“When you wear the uniform, you represent the past, the present and the future,” Lechlitner said. “You represent the best this country has to offer.”

Lechlitner had served in the country’s armed forces for more than 20 years. He first enlisted in the Air Force upon graduating from Dowagiac Union High School in 1992, where he was deployed to Bosnia. In 2002, he joined the U.S. Army, where he spent several campaigns overseas in places like Iraq, Djibouti and South Korea.

The soldier was caught in several IED attacks over the course of his service. He received a medical discharge from the Army in March, and was diagnosed with chronic PTSD.

When parade organizer Jim Benedix asked if he would like to speak to the people of his hometown on Memorial Day, though, Lechlitner said he accepted immediately.

“Even though I’m retired, there are plenty of soldiers, airmen, sailors, marines, that are carrying on this legacy, that won’t let you down,” he said.

Following his remarks, the parade precession embarked on their journey down Front Street, across Division Street and up Riverview Drive to the cemetery. Hundreds of people dotted the length of parade route, many of them saluting the retired veterans leading the vanguard.

Among the other groups involved in the parade were the high school marching band, Miss Dowagiac and her court, members of Positively Dance and engines from local firehouses.

After pausing briefly over the bridge near the Dowagiac Mill Pond, the precession ended up at their destination at Riverside Cemetery. There, members of the Dowagiac VFW paid their respects for the fallen veterans, placing flowers on their memorial gravestone and firing off rounds for a rifle salute.

“Throughout our nation’s history, we have been blessed with people who are genuinely committed to something larger than themselves — people who understood duty for the greater good,” said VFW Post Commander Bill Bobik.