Joey Bates will be speaker at local Memorial Day service; Legion offering poppies today at Save-A-Lot

Joseph "Joey" Bates will be the guest speaker for the Memorial Day service hosted by American Legion Post 22 at the courthouse noon Monday.

Bates was a member of the Psychological Operation Unit from the U.S. Marine Corps when it came under attack from Al-Shabab fighters in Somalia and he suffered a traumatic brain injury. Nineteen terrorists were killed during a five-hour combat engagement.

Bates served the Marines in a variety of capacities before joining that Psych Ops unit. He took early retirement and returned to Montgomery County after his injury and and an extensive recovery. 

Bates also served a combat deployment in Iraq.

He was a member of the JROTC at Montgomery County High School before joining the Marines.

Bates attends The Refinery Church on East Locust Street and told the Advocate previously that faith is what sustained him throughout his journey.

Bates and his wife, Meghan, have three children together—Courtney, Kayla, Cameron and Kora.

The American Legion Auxiliary is set up at Save-A-Lot today offering poppies free of charge, though donations are accepted, until supplies run out.

The red poppy is a symbol of sacrifice in honor of the soldiers who served and died for our country. Since World War I patriotic Americans have traditionally worn a red poppy on Memorial Day as a symbol of remembrance and hope. In 1920 the red poppy officially became the national emblem of remembrance.

Every year leading up to Memorial Day, Veterans at Dept. of Veterans Affairs medical facilities and veterans homes help assemble the poppies as part of their therapeutic rehabilitation. Over 14 million poppies are distributed annually by American Legion Auxiliary and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) at various locations throughout the U.S., according to veteranhonor.org.

Legion members will also be at Machpelah Cemetery and Olive Hill Cemetery until 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday handing out flags for veterans. Donations will be accepted.

"Taps" will be played at Machpelah Cemetery to conclude that event.