The service was co-sponsored by Robinson Funeral Homes and Easley American Legion Post 52.
Because of rain, the service was moved inside to the chapel of the funeral home.
Phillip Hunter Prince, president emeritus of Clemson University, was the guest speaker for the service.
Prince, a veteran of both World War II and the Korea War, spoke of his family’s contribution to the war effort.
He was the youngest of four brothers who served in World War II. His oldest brother, Palmer, was born in 1918. Facing the hard times of the Great Depression, Palmer joined the U.S. Navy in 1938 and was assigned to the U.S.S. Hyman, stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
The Hyman was not in port on the day of the Japanese sneak attack of Dec. 7, 1941, so the ship was spared the destruction of the attack. Palmer himself was across the country in special training during the attack.
The Hyman provided support to the U.S. Marines in Iwo Jima, and even shined its lights on the mountains as the marines climbed to launch their attack. The marines eventually raised a flag there, in a famous scene that has been recreated with for a monument in Arlington, Va.
Later in the war, the Hyman was hit by a Japanese kamikaze plan that crashed near it’s torpedo deck. Palmer was a fireman on the ship, and was working to put out the fire when a bomb exploded. Palmer was one of 12 killed in the attack. More than 40 more were wounded.
Another older brother served in World War II, but was given an honorable discharge for his heart condition.
A third brother was injured in World War II. He came back home, earned his degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, then taught for many years at Wofford College.
Prince was the youngest of the four brothers and was serving in 1945 when his oldest brother Palmer died. Although the army allowed soldiers to come home when a member of their family was killed in action, Prince opted to continue his service, hoping to avenge his brother’s death.
“This is just the story of four brothers who served their country during World War II,” Prince said. “I’m sure there are a lot of people in this room who have more dramatic stores than that.”
Prince spoke without using notes.
“The only notes I have are written in my heart, my mind and my soul,” he said.
Prince said that it is important that America remembers its veterans, both those who have served in the past as well as those who are currently serving the country.
“This county owes a debt that can never be fully repaid to the men and women who have risked their lives to serve their country.”
Sara Cox Bishop, widow of the Rev. Hubert E. Bishop Sr., a World War II veteran, placed an honorary wreath in memory of those who have died serving their country.
Earlier in the service, Easley Mayor Larry Bagwell spoke to the crowd.
He said he had selected the tie he was wearing because it had been given to him by a very close friend who served in World War II.
“We keep hearing about how our World War veterans are dying, and nobody knows how much time any of us have left,” Bagwell said. “You forget sometimes to say, ‘Thank you.’ You forget to say, ‘I love you.’ From this day forward, I promise that every time I get to see my friend, I’m going to tell him I love him.”
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