A day of remembrance

A young boy traces the cross engraved on his great grandfather’s headstone at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Fla., May 24, 2015. Hundreds of volunteers placed American flags in front of more than 300 acres of headstones belonging to military veterans. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Bulow-Gonterman/Released)

A day of remembrance

A shadow is cast across the grass during a Memorial Day flag laying event at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Fla., May 24, 2015. Hundreds of volunteers placed American flags in front of more than 300 acres of headstones belonging to military veterans. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Bulow-Gonterman/Released)

A day of remebrance

Tina Lacey places an American flag in front of her father’s headstone in honor of Memorial Day at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Fla., May 24, 2015. Memorial Day falls on the last Monday of the month and is reserved as a day of remembrance for those who honorably served in the military. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Bulow-Gonterman/Released)

A day of remembrance

Published May 29, 2015
By Senior Airman Melanie Bulow-Gonterman
6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. -- With a single American flag in hand volunteer Tina Lacey kneels down in front of the headstone belonging to a U.S. Army veteran who had served in Korea and Vietnam and whispers I miss you dad.

Lacey along with hundreds of volunteers from a variety of organizations across central Florida gathered May 24, 2015, at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida, to place American flags at the front of gravestones and niches belonging to fallen service members in honor of Memorial Day.

"It is incredible to see the support from the community on a day like today," said Lacey. "This is my first time participating in an event like this. So many emotions run through me. It makes me sad that he is no longer with us, but also happy that he fought for our country and complete strangers honor him for that."

Memorial Day falls on the last Monday of the month and is reserved as a day of remembrance for those who honorably served in the military.

"Today is about giving back and thanking each and everyone one of them for their service with each flag that is placed," expressed Air Force veteran Michael Rose. "It is a very humbling experience overall. My goal was to stay there until all the flags were placed to ensure each and every veteran received a flag."

When all was said and done, no headstone was forgotten and the lives of those that paid the ultimate price were remembered.