On Memorial Day, the South Florida National Cemetery in Lake Worth became a place of solemn remembrance as volunteers laid flags and flowers on the graves of more than 30,000 veterans. This annual ceremony is a tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Honoring the Fallen

Matt Eversmann, a retired U.S. Army first sergeant and veteran of the Black Hawk Down mission in Somalia, addressed attendees at the ceremony. He emphasized the importance of service, stating, “From private to general to admiral or a truck driver, it doesn’t matter who it is — just that you serve your country well and we can never thank you enough.”

The event also featured other guest speakers, a three-volley salute by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard, and a wreath-laying ceremony to honor Gold Star Families, who have lost loved ones in military service.

A Place of Rest

The South Florida National Cemetery spans 338 acres and is expected to serve veterans’ needs for the next 50 years. Located at 6501 State Road 7 in unincorporated Lake Worth, the cemetery is open from sunrise to sunset. It provides a dignified resting place for those who served in the armed forces, as well as their eligible family members.

Burial in a VA national cemetery is available to all members of the armed forces who meet a minimum active duty service requirement and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. Spouses, widows or widowers, minor dependent children, and under certain conditions, unmarried adult children with disabilities, may also be eligible for burial. Additionally, members of the reserve components who die while on active duty or training duty, or who were eligible for retired pay, may qualify for burial.

Original reporting: WPBF (Treasure Coast / Hearst) — read the source article.