NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) - All around Middle Tennessee, people are gathering to honor the men and women who sacrificed their lives for our country.

Monday morning at the Nashville National Veterans Cemetery, military members, their families and other people in the community joined together for a Memorial Day ceremony.

People at the ceremony were expressing their gratitude for fallen soldiers in different ways.

Laura Butekovic Graves placed pennies on headstones, a gesture that signifies respect and remembrance. "For me, my freedom is because of all of these men and women who have sacrificed their lives for me," Graves said.

Rachel Lipskey came to sing the national anthem, something she says she never takes for granted. "It's such an honor to be a small part of such an incredible event," Lipskey said.

An army veteran, Raymond Jones, brought his two daughters to the ceremony.

He said it's important to him that they're raised with a reverence for this day. "Teaching them that it's not just a day off of work, it's not just a day to barbeque. It's a day to pay tribute to people who served this country and paved the way for us."

Jones said he had many of his fellow soldiers die in combat overseas, and says seeing other veterans on Memorial Day renews his memory of the friends he lost.

"Even though you don't know each other, you always walk up to each other, shake their hand and say thank you for your service. Just to be out here with each other means a lot," Jones said.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/nashville-national-veterans-cemetery-hosts-memorial-day-ceremony/