Rows of Soldiers Remembered by Families
By: Cassidy Hodges
Updated: May 28, 2012
"He was in the us army and he served during the Vietnam war," says Dawson Marquette about his grandfather.
Rows and rows of stories lie here at Fayetteville National Cemetery.
"It means a lot to me that he's here and the honor that he's getting by being buried here," says Marquette.
For every stone, a family living without their loved one.
"We've come here every year since he passed away in '07," says Mary Wilkinson.
"It's because of all these people out here who have given their lives that you and I are able to be here today," says Greg Peterson, a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army.
It's a sacrifice that inspires the ones these soldiers leave behind.
"I always respected him because he served his country and that's something for me to live up to," says Marquette.
"I'm just in awe. It still brings tears to my eyes. It's amazing what they went through," says Wilkinson.
Dawson Marquette lost his grandfather in 2009, but his service to the country leaves a lesson.
"It kind of put his whole life and kind of the whole world into perspective to think that he was part of history," says Marquette.
Mary Wilkinson grew up hearing war stories from her father.
"He was on the USS Maryland at the time of the Pearl Harbor battle," says Wilkinson.
But all the WWII tales didn't sink in until she was an adult.
"Having to go out on a boat after the battle and pick up the people that had not made it,"
It's a scene she can't imagine and one her father, Melvin Gauge, didn't talk about often.
"They've secured our right to be free," says Wilkinson.
But not without rows of sacrifice.
"I think a lot of people see it as a time to get off work, hangout relax and grill some hot dogs. But it is a time that we should honor our veterans and a lot of these people gave their lives to help serve the country they love," says Marquette.
"I hope they never forget, never," says Wilkinson.
Rows and rows of stories lie here at Fayetteville National Cemetery.
"It means a lot to me that he's here and the honor that he's getting by being buried here," says Marquette.
For every stone, a family living without their loved one.
"We've come here every year since he passed away in '07," says Mary Wilkinson.
"It's because of all these people out here who have given their lives that you and I are able to be here today," says Greg Peterson, a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army.
It's a sacrifice that inspires the ones these soldiers leave behind.
"I always respected him because he served his country and that's something for me to live up to," says Marquette.
"I'm just in awe. It still brings tears to my eyes. It's amazing what they went through," says Wilkinson.
Dawson Marquette lost his grandfather in 2009, but his service to the country leaves a lesson.
"It kind of put his whole life and kind of the whole world into perspective to think that he was part of history," says Marquette.
Mary Wilkinson grew up hearing war stories from her father.
"He was on the USS Maryland at the time of the Pearl Harbor battle," says Wilkinson.
But all the WWII tales didn't sink in until she was an adult.
"Having to go out on a boat after the battle and pick up the people that had not made it,"
It's a scene she can't imagine and one her father, Melvin Gauge, didn't talk about often.
"They've secured our right to be free," says Wilkinson.
But not without rows of sacrifice.
"I think a lot of people see it as a time to get off work, hangout relax and grill some hot dogs. But it is a time that we should honor our veterans and a lot of these people gave their lives to help serve the country they love," says Marquette.
"I hope they never forget, never," says Wilkinson.
