Memorial Day 2023: Community, military families gather to pay tribute at Dayton National Cemetery

DAYTON — There are multiple ceremonies taking place across the Miami Valley today to honor our country’s fallen heroes for Memorial Day.

News Center 7 was there as people came to the Dayton National Cemetery Monday morning to pay their respects to those who gave their lives serving our country.

>> PHOTOS: Dayton National Cemetery Memorial Day Program

Our crew spoke to a Columbus woman who lost her husband this past February. She said her husband, an Army veteran, asked to be buried at the cemetery at the Dayton VA Medical Center, where more than 60,000 veterans, and many of their spouses, are buried.

“People must realize how [military members] are losing their lives for us,” Geraldine Durroh said.

Colonel Scott Sonnek, Medical Research Director at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, delivered this keynote address at this year’s program. Ohio Congressman Mike Turner and Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Dennis Adkins also delivered messages at the event.

>> Community gathers for Memorial Day ceremony in Centerville

“I know as we each leave here today we’re going to think we don’t do enough, and at times we don’t but today we have gathered as a community here at this national cemetery, this national monument to take a pause and thank those who gave the ultimate sacrifice and to thank our veterans from which we know we owe our freedoms,” Turner said.

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