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It was a morning full of memories, stories, tears, hugs, laughter and more hugs in the early hours of May 31. Family members who gathered at Veterans Park on Monday shared war stories – real ones – about the loved ones they were there to remember, during a Memorial Day service organized by Beaufort County’s Chapter 48 of the Disabled American Veterans.

Keynote speaker for the event was Beaufort County Veterans Service Officer Jennie Haddock, who encouraged vets and family members alike to keep alive the memories of American soldiers, to “have the same mindset of loyalty and patriotism for our country that they fought for. Keep the flame of gratitude bright,” she said, encouraging everyone to openly remember “their loyalty, valor and sacrifice and always have an example to pass down to our children so they, too, can understand and appreciate what love and duty for country is all about.”

Twenty-one fallen soldiers were honored, each with the solemn ring of a bell that drew new tears from the special seating section where members of Gold Star Families – who have lost sons, daughters, spouses and more because of wartime deaths – were given yellow roses for each military member being remembered.

Monday’s event also included presentation of the Honor and Remember Flag, recently approved by North Carolina’s senate and house of representatives along with 25 other states so far. The flag features symbols meant to be reminders of the sacrifices, purity and spirit of fallen soldiers as a “visible public reminder to all Americans of the lives given to preserve freedom… and a national symbol of appreciation recognizing the sacrifice of generations of fallen hero families,” according to the founding group’s web site.

DAV Commander Juanita White said that, above all, she “loved the unity of all our veterans’ groups who participated, because we all have to work together to make this a better community for our veterans.”