HOUSTON — Families gathered at Houston National Cemetery on Memorial Day to honor fallen veterans. Thousands of flags lined the grounds of the cemetery, each representing a veteran.

Kristi Capuano visited the cemetery on Memorial Day, which is also her father’s birthday. "We try to come out for his birthday, and for Memorial Day, which happens to be on the same day, so 2 in 1," Capuano said.

Bruce Wright came to Houston National Cemetery to honor his mother and his father, a Korean War veteran buried there. "This is my mom and dad buried here. My father was a veteran, he served in the Korean War," Wright said. He reflected on the broader meaning of the holiday, saying, "In my personal opinion, I think a lot of it’s lost in the celebration. You know? People think of barbecue, or days off from work and everything like that. But, this is it. This is my memorial celebration right here, thinking about my father and all the veterans that I passed."

Wright emphasized the importance of remembrance, stating, "We have the freedoms we have, because of the people that are here. This is important. This can’t be forgotten." Capuano also shared a personal connection to her father’s memory, saying, "We get the humor from him, try to pass that onto my kids. They think I’m goofy at times."