In separate ceremonies in Gloucester and Mathews on Sunday, veterans and their family members were honored for their sacrifices in times of war and peace.

In Gloucester

Marine Corps Maj. John South, commander of the 2nd Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team (FAST) in Yorktown, was the guest speaker at the afternoon ceremony, which was held in front of the new Gloucester courthouse.

South reflected on "looking to those that have gone before" as the theme of his talk during the ceremony organized by Marine Corps League Middle Peninsula Detachment #1317. He said that we see examples of this in civilian life as hopeful athletes, musicians and others look to the idols in their particular field.

South didn’t have to look too far for a role model. His father was a Marine and, in 1964, had been part of an advertising campaign for the Corps that emphasized "Mind, Body and Spirit." For Mind, the poster depicted a Marine taking an academic test; for Spirit, it showed a Marine in dress...