The rain and wind from the remnants of Hurricane Ida may have caused the Anson County Veterans Day service to be moved from its traditional spot in front of the courthouse to Wadesboro Elementary, but the recognition of the county's veterans was still as moving and heartfelt as ever.

After the Anson High School JROTC presented the nation's colors and the audience listened to a pre-recorded version of the National Anthem, Rev. Jerry Robinson of Deep Creek Baptist gave the invocation. Robinson's youngest son is in the Air Force and another son has already served a tour of duty, event emcee Randy Davenport said.

After the prayer, each unit of the armed forces' march song was played, and veterans from that branch of service were asked to stand.

County Commissioners Chairperson Anna Baucom spoke about a resolution the commissioners had approved, one in support of Veterans Day and another in support of the National Guard unit from Anson County that is currently deployed in Iraq. "About this time last year," she recalled, "we had a deployment ceremony, which I cried all the way through."

She praised the county's "citizen soldiers" and thanked the veterans in attendance for their service.

Wadesboro Councilman Lawrence Gatewood also read a resolution from the town of Wadesboro, supporting the observance of Veterans Day.

Bridget Davenport performed a song entitled "Letters from War," a heartfelt number that left many in the audience wiping at their eyes.

Army veteran Sgt. Cynthia Ratliff, who has served for 27 years, spoke next, saying that her service in the U.S. Army has been the best time of her life. "True, America is strong and free," she said, "but we would never have come as far as we have without our veterans."

She also thanked the veterans in attendance for "setting the example that inspired me and my peers to volunteer for service."

The Ebenezer Baptist Church Choir performed "My Country 'Tis of Thee" and "Glory, Glory Hallelujah" before keynote speaker Senator Bill Purcell took the podium.

Sen. Purcell, himself a veteran of the U.S. Army, started his speech by quoting various presidents' comments in Arlington National Cemetery on previous Veterans Days. From John F. Kennedy to George W. Bush, he gave inspiring quotes about the nation's military and its endless service to the country. (Current President Barack Obama had not yet given his speech at the time of the service.)

"A lot of events take place in this community all year long, but none more important than today," Purcell said, adding, "America is still the greatest country in the world to live in."

The service ended with a moment of silence for Anson's National Guard unit and those veterans that have been lost.