PORTLAND, Ore. – Thousands of people gathered at Willamette National Cemetery for the 67th Memorial Day Ceremony.
As with tradition, tens of thousands of American Flags mark each and every grave site, as many families came to place flowers.
Oregon Governor Kate Brown and Secretary of State Dennis Richardson also attended. Richardson was the keynote speaker for the program.
The ceremony started at 10:00 a.m., and came complete with patriotic music, flag displays, a rifle salute and fly-over. The Oregon Military Museum donated a static display of equipment.
The 142nd Fighter Wing conducted a fly-over, even though it was too cloudy to see the F-15 Eagle fighter jets, the roaring filled the air.
Kurt Hofmeister was one of more than 2,000 people who attended the ceremony, and says he does so, every year. He’s not a member of the military, but says, he gets emotional thinking about all the sacrifices made.
“Just the reverence, and respect for all those that have given their lives, and we take freedom so much for granted,” he said. “We just can’t do that. Freedom isn’t free.”