JEFFERSON PARISH, La. — Monday is Memorial Day, and Americans are honoring the men and women of our armed forces who died serving our country.
Friday, members of the Third Infantry Regiment placed American flags at the base of more than 260,000 headstones at Arlington National Cemetery.
The flags are all placed before the cemetery opens, and they will remain on display throughout the weekend.
Volunteers also placed flags at the National Cemetery in Chalmette, and the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery in Slidell, held a ceremony Friday afternoon.
In Jefferson Parish, people gathered in the Lakeside Mall, to honor those who did not make it home after serving the country.
Veterans were there who said they miss their fallen friends every day.
Lakeside Mall filled with sounds of the Pledge of Allegiance, the National Anthem, and each military branch’s song.
But what brought the crowd to a solemn silence, was the story of a fallen hero, bomb disposal technician, Gunnery Sergeant E.J. Pate. He represents the very reason for Memorial Day.
“He died in a little cornfield in a little town called Sangin, so that a 19-year-old lance corporal could make it home. He left behind a mother, a father, two sisters, a wife, and two children. He was my “brother,” and my friend, and I miss him. But, Memorial Day is not about missing our heroes. It is about honoring them,” said Jackson Smith.
Marine, Jackson Smith served in Afghanistan with E.J. and has worn his name on a bracelet for 13 years. He continues to serve today, running Bastion Community of Resilience in Gentilly, America’s first intentional community for injured veterans and their families.
He also thanked the Vietnam veterans.
“You all did not get the welcome home, and the thank you that you deserved when you came home, and so the way that I see it, we owe you all about 60 years’ worth of interest,” Smith told the gathering.
“I love my brothers. I love the country, and I love my flag. We all got to gang together, otherwise we will lose this country, and we will lose our freedom,” said veteran Art LeTellier, who has a group called Mr. PRIDE that helps veterans who have thoughts of suicide.
It means a lot. I know people that didn't make it back. And our children and grandchildren need to know these things that the men sacrificed through the years of, of what they gave, and they have no idea,” said veteran Meaux Marrero.
The veterans ask that we all understand why this day is not the same as Veterans Day.
“By being here today, you let those of us know, who wear names on our wrists, and worry sometimes that we're the only ones who remember, you let us know that you remember too,” Smith added.
One of the veterans, Art LeTellier, advocates for veterans' mental health.
Veterans crisis line 800-273-8255.
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