COLUMBIA, S.C. — Hundreds gathered at the Fort Jackson National Cemetery on Saturday to honor service men and women who have died.
It was a day of remembrance and honor for Command Sergeant Major Kimberly Nieves, who was one of the hundreds who gathered to pay their respects during Fort Jackson's Wreaths Across America event. The afternoon centered around celebrating the legacies of service men and women who have died.
"When it comes down to it, we're all a family regardless of how we served, who we served with. When we come together, it just means more," Nieves said.
Various military speakers held a brief ceremony; then, the wreath laying began. Volunteers and visitors lined up, were given a wreath, and laid it at the bottom of a headstone. In total, over 9,600 wreaths were presented. Many, including Desiree Strickland, an active duty servicemember, took a moment to reflect on what that person sacrificed.
"My commander's grandfather is buried out here. This year, my unit suffered a tragic loss. Losing one of our members. This is definitely me paying that ultimate honor. In my head, I'm telling them, 'Thank you for your service. Thank you for paving the way for people like myself who aspired to join and were able to serve," she said.
For Sam Boone, a retired Army chaplain, Saturday was about remembering his brothers in arms.
"I have so many friends that I've served with that are here now. But also someday I'll be here. To remember who's here and the sacrifice they made for our country and our freedoms, it's important for me personally, to participate in any way that I can," he said.
John Marcucci said it's an honor seeing hundreds of people come out to support.
"It's a chance to honor those who have served. A lot of times, the military is overlooked or not given the credit that they're due. It's a great chance to honor all those that have served and that have given their lives," he said.
Carol Davis, the event organizer, said Saturday should serve as motivation to donate time during the holidays and every time of the year.
"We've got veterans that need all kinds of help. We've got homeless veterans, veterans suffering from PTSD. It's just not something to do on one day out of the year; we need to honor and remember our veterans and their families every day, she said.
Davis said the wreaths will stay on the graves until Jan. 10, when organizers'll collect them.