Active duty military and those who have been lost in the line of duty were honored Tuesday night in a Christmas candlelight service in Brownwood.

This annual event, coordinated by local ministers and the Military and Family Support Group of Brownwood, helps to uplift members of the U.S. Armed Forces, Reserves, National Guard and their families in prayer.

Over 150 friends and family members of servicemen as well as other supporters came to this event to hear holiday songs by the community choir and words of comfort from several pastors and to honor the soldiers they love.

Joyce Leidig, one of the event coordinators, said, “Our military needs to know that we support them, especially in times of war.”

More than 230 names of active duty soldiers with ties to Brown County were read by various members of the community.

Many families who have lost loved ones overseas in recent years were also in attendance.

Joan Smith’s grandson, Cpl. Michael Craig Ledsome, was killed in combat in Iraq three years ago.

“It means so much,” Smith said, “I don’t ever want people to forget that our freedom has a cost.”