Leonardtown’s annual parade to honor veterans that have served and are currently serving in the military to protect our freedoms had an added meaning for Southern Maryland on Tuesday, Nov. 11.

The ceremony, sponsored by the Commissioners of Leonardtown, featured Mayor J.Harry Norris as master of ceremonies and guest speakers such as Maryland’s Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, Commissioner President Jack Russell, and Congressman Steny Hoyer, and four fifth grade students from Leonardtown Elementary School; Andrew Breslauer, Allison Campbell, Megan Conway and Emily Simonson.

After the parade and ceremony, the honorarium paid tribute to  St. Mary’s own Sgt. Ryan Patrick Baumann.

Baumann was the brave young soldier who was killed in action in Afghanistan just this past summer. The ceremony brought tears to Baumann’s family and others as those in attendance witnessed his name added to Leonardtown’s Global War on Terrorism Memorial in the center of the town.

TheBAYNET.com was there to record the day's events. Take a look at the pictures and pay your respects to our heroes along with the rest of Southern Maryland.