'The Enormous Cost to Maintain a Free Republic'

By RICK BOSTON

Staff Writer

As he closed out his address at Martinsburg's Memorial Day Service at Morrisons Cove Memorial Park, Rep. Jim Gregory (R-80), looked out at the veterans, adults, and children seated in the ballroom of the park's building and asked them to not lose sight of the true meaning of the day. Echoing a message that was relayed at thousands of Memorial Day gatherings across the country, Gregory implored everyone to "never forget the enormous cost of a free and undivided republic."

As the keynote speaker, Gregory mixed history, patriotism, and a plea for all Americans to take...