MEMPHIS, Tenn — Hundreds paid respect to members of the military, gathering at Memphis National Cemetery on Saturday.
An annual "Wreaths for Veterans" event was organized for the public to remember and honor to fallen men and women of the military. Volunteers were encouraged to place a wreath on veterans grave stones and speak their name aloud.
The national tradition started over 30 years ago and has grown into an event that over two million Americans participate in at different venues across the country every year.
The Memphis event's location coordinator says that connecting with families of those who are buried at the cemetery and hearing their stories is one of her favorite parts.
"The goal is to have every veteran remembered part of what we say in the speech," Heather Feddersen-Ingoldsey said. "Part of our mission is 'say their names.' [We] place a wreath, and say their names because they say 'a veteran dies twice — once when they take their last breath and once when their name is said for the last time."
Memphis National Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in Memphis as they said there are 44,000 vets interred. It also reportedly has the largest number of unknown veterans buried there at around 8,800.