Cedar Ridge Veterans Facility held a memorial dedication and flag raising ceremony on Saturday.

The event showcased the new commemorative flag garden, located in front of Cedar Ridge, featuring flags representing the five branches of American military service: United States Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force and Army.

The five flags were arranged to form a star around the centerpiece of an American Flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol on June 2 in honor of the late founders of Cedar Ridge.

The founders were former Marine Sgt. and Vietnam veteran Jerry Glaze and his wife, Nell, who are current owner and manager Melani Pritchard’s parents.

“The community has been excellent to us,” Pritchard said on Saturday. “We are thrilled with how everything turned out for today and couldn’t have asked for a better day.”

More than 30 people attended the ceremony on Saturday on the outer lawn of the Cedar Ridge facility located at 325 County Road 271 in Clanton, near the Collins Chapel community.

After the flags were raised, snacks and drinks were served to members of the community who came out for the event.

“We wanted to be able to do something special for the veterans who live at this facility and also for other local veterans, and they have been looking forward to this day for a while,” Pritchard said.

Ogle Memorials donated a four-foot monument inscribed with the words from the American Flag certification, Matt Easterling with Unique Landscaping performed the work at the site for a reduced rate and Shelby Concrete donated the gravel.

The residents who live at the facility were the honored attendees of the event.

Pritchard said residents at Cedar Ridge have ranged from a 24-year-old Afghanistan veteran to World War II veterans.

“Veterans never forget their service,” Pritchard said. “We are just so appreciative for all of the people who have come out today to honor them.”

For more information about the facility, contact (205) 688-3034.