Coral Ridge hosts 45th annual Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony

CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WINK) — For 45 years, people have gathered at Coral Ridge Funeral Home and Cemetery to remember the men and women who never made it home.

On Memorial Day, that tradition continued with the 45th annual Community Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony at Coral Ridge’s Field of Honor.

The ceremony brought together veterans, Gold Star families, community leaders and residents to honor service members who died in the line of duty.

Paul Gales, the general manager of Coral Ridge, said the event is the cemetery’s largest of the year.

“It’s the biggest event we do in the cemetery every year,” Gales said.

This year’s ceremony included a flyover, speakers from the community, veterans, patriotic music and other ceremonial tributes.

Gales said planning for the event is not something that happens overnight. In fact, he said the work for next year’s ceremony begins almost immediately.

“We’ll start for next year tomorrow,” Gales said. “It’s just always an ongoing thing that we do here every year.”

The community also plays a major role in preparing for the remembrance ceremony.

Gales said this past Saturday, volunteers came out for a flag placement ceremony. Local Boy Scout and Cub Scout troops, members of the Legion Riders, and other community members helped place flags on veterans’ graves ahead of Memorial Day.

For Gales, who is also a veteran, Memorial Day is simple but deeply meaningful.

“It’s just a day to remember,” Gales said. “It’s a special day.”

For veterans attending the ceremony, that remembrance is personal.

Lee Krabill served in the Navy from 1966 to 1970 as a submarine sailor during the Vietnam era.

Krabill said he joined the Navy after being drafted. He said a cousin in the Army encouraged him to choose the Air Force or Navy instead of ending up in the jungle.

“I joined the Navy, and here I am,” Krabill said.

He described his time in service as “interesting,” with long periods of boredom mixed with moments of fear.

“A lot of boredom with utter fear,” Krabill said.

But Memorial Day, he said, is about honoring the people who did not get the chance to come home.

“We served, and we survived, and there’s just so much honor and respect for those who gave their lives for our country that we have to be here,” Krabill said.

For Krabill, the meaning of Memorial Day is tied to his own family. He said he escorted his cousin’s body home from Vietnam for burial at Arlington National Cemetery.

“Not the best day of my life,” Krabill said.

When asked if he honors his cousin on Memorial Day, Krabill said he does so every day.

“Always,” Krabill said. “Every breath I take.”

Krabill said one way he carries on the memory of those who died is by living a strong life and showing respect to others.

“By living a strong, good life,” Krabill said. “Giving respect to everybody I can.”

His message to other veterans was simple.

“Thank you for your service,” Krabill said. “We’re all brothers in arms.”

Coral Ridge’s Memorial Day ceremony is meant to give families, veterans and the community a place to pause, reflect and remember the cost of service.

For Gales, Krabill and many others who came to the Field of Honor, Memorial Day is not about a long weekend.

It is about names, sacrifice and making sure the people who gave their lives for the country are never forgotten.