During the ceremony, a monument was displayed in memory of Melvin Garland, who died May 13, 2008. Garland passed away of a terminal illness, just two months short of his 30-year anniversary with the company. He served as a mechanical carman at Norfolk Southern.

"In his life, Melvin had two sets of rules he followed," said fellow mechanical carman Joe Brady. "He followed the teachings of Jesus Christ, as well as the Norfolk Southern operating rules. He fulfilled both of those to the fullest extent."

At last year's annual safety caravan, Norfolk Southern employees decided to plan a dedication for Garland, particularly since he was known to always follow safety guidelines.

The monument, called the Melvin Garland Safety Pavilion, now sits outside of Langdale Yard, located at Norfolk Southern on South Fry Street.

Garland's family was out of town and unable to attend the ceremony, Brady said.

(This item appeared May 14, 2009, in The Valdosta Daily Times.)