"We're remembering:" Hundreds gather for Memorial Day ceremony at Wood National Cemetery

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Wood National Cemetery hosted a moving tribute on Monday, May 25th to those who served and made the ultimate sacrifice.

There are more than 30,000 gravesites at Wood National Cemetery. Volunteers have spent the last few days getting the grounds ready for the ceremony and placing flags a the gravesites. Each gravestone tells a story -- it's a symbol of a fallen hero.

"Think of all they went through and we're remembering them that are gone. There were so many; it is heart sickening to think of it sometimes. But it means a lot to us, it means a lot," said Rosemary Bouche, a World War II veteran.



Monday's ceremony was particularly important to Vietnam veterans because it is the 50th anniversary of the U.S. engagement in the Vietnam war.

The keynote speaker Eduardo Garza, a lieutenant in the Navy, was nearly moved to tears speaking about his father, a Vietnam veteran who completed four tours.

Monday's ceremony also included a vintage aircraft flyover and presentation of the wreaths.

Wood National Cemetery is the final resting place for veterans of every major American conflict, except the Revolutionary War.