SAN ANTONIO — Under a beautiful blue sky, hundreds of patriotic people turned out for a stirring ceremony at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery Monday in honor of Memorial Day.
They came to remember and to say thanks on behalf of all those who gave their lives for freedom.
Sitting in the grass in the shade, Bill Robbins said: “Driving in and seeing all the headstones and seeing how beautifully this place is kept and this large crowd, out honoring and remembering our veterans, we love San Antonio and this is one of the reasons we love it.” Robbins said he and his wife came to remember relatives lost in World War II.
“My uncle Dr. Tom Robbins was killed on Normandy Beach during the invasion. And my wife's uncle Harry Stein was killed in the Battle of the Bulge,” Robbins said.
David Gonzales said “I'm remembering Gary Tate, 21 years old. He had snow white hair and he was from Three Rivers Texas.”
Gonzales said he advised his friend to dye his hair so that enemy soldiers wouldn’t assume he was an officer and target him.
“Sure enough, a sniper picked him off first. He went in harm's way for our country and he paid the price. The ultimate price,” Gonzales said.
Overlooking the crowd, which included the very young and seniors, Gonzales said he was glad to see the memories of important sacrifices carried forward.
Gonzales said “The young people need to remember what America's about. I'm afraid it's being lost on a lot of people.”
Doug Purcell agreed that seeing a large crowd of youngsters in attendance was a hopeful sign.
“It’s good for the young people. I am glad when I see the parents who bring their kids,” Purcell said.
Standing united, in a city rich in military tradition, these are the ties that bind us to the past and each other.
Because he has numerous relatives who served and are buried at Fort Sam, Purcell said he tries to attend the holiday observances every year.
“Oh it makes my heart sing. We've come in rain and we’ve come in 100-degree temperatures and it's always wonderful because there's such a good crowd here,” Purcell said, adding that his father fought in the Pacific theatre in World War II.
Retired Army Ranger Ron Benton watched the emotional ceremony near the rifle team that fired three ceremonial volleys.
“To me, every day should be Memorial Day. That's just how it is,” Benton said.
Sporting a bright Disabled American Veterans shirt, Kevin Crozier said: “What's in my heart is just that everybody is being thankful for what we have, just the comradeship.”
With regard to honoring the dead during the holidays, the local chapter of Wreaths Across America is already recruiting donors and volunteers to help with their Christmas season effort to place an evergreen wreath on every grave at the cemetery.