Veterans stand at attention during the national anthem at the Memorial Day Service held at Graceland Cemetery on Monday morning.

With the backdrop of more than 600 American flags waving in the breeze, veterans and community members gathered Monday morning at Graceland Cemetery to for a Memorial Day ceremony honoring military personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Led by American Legion Post 191, the ceremony followed tributes offered at the Marshall Crippen Bridge on Des Moines Street for those lost at sea, and at the Cass Center Cemetery. The Legion assembled in downtown Webster City and along with members of the Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and the high school marching band, paraded to the Boulevard of Valor. The group then moved on to Graceland Cemetery where about 200 people had gathered for the remembrance service.

Marvin Carr, 8th District Legion Commander, was the keynote speaker. He shared stories of service members who had died in battle and spoke about the sacrifices made by the fallen service members.

“It is up to us to remember their sacrifices. Long after the battlefield guns have been silenced and the bombs have stopped exploding, the children of our fallen warriors will still be missing a parent. Spouses will be without their life partners and parents will continue to grieve for their heroic sons and daughters who died too early,” he said.

“What they lacked in time, they made up for in valor,” said Carr.

American Legion Auxiliary Member Stephanie Carr read the names of veterans who had died in the past year, with a bell tolling as each name was read.

Members of the Webster City High School Lynx Singers, directed by Cinnamon Kleeman, sang, “In Flanders Fields.” The high school marching band played the Star-Spangled Banner as the audience and veterans stood with hands across their hearts.

American Legion Post 191 Commander Dale Caquelin closed out the program by telling the audience that more than 1,500 veterans — from wars and conflicts dating back to the mid-1800s — are buried in Graceland Cemetery.