ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) – It was standing room only at Bay Pines National Cemetery in St. Petersburg Monday. On this Memorial Day hundreds remembered and honored those who served and died.
Guarionex Gil is one of them. “We cannot forget the men and women that sacrificed for what we got today,” Gil said.
Gil spent 12 years in the military. He served during the time of the Cold War. “I was an infantryman. I was a drill sergeant instructor,” Gil said.
Every day is Memorial Day in his eyes. Gil said his thoughts are with those overseas.
“I trained a lot of men and women and today I wonder how they are, how many survived and how many went to glory,” he said.
U.S. Representative David Jolly spoke at Monday’s event. “Men and women who we honor today, by placing at their head stone that very flag under which they served,” Jolly said.
The cemetery was draped with 36,000 flags. Liz Magnetta put flowers next to her husband’s flag. For her, it’s a grave reminder for the cost of our freedom.
“Flags make me cry. There’s just so many of them, and I just wish for the ones that are in the service that they come back and before they get this far, there’s something more we can do for them,” Magnetta said.
The ceremony concluded with the placement of the ceremonial wreath and the 21-gun salute.WHAT OTHERS ARE CLICKING ON RIGHT NOW:
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