Dublin VA Medical Center honors fallen heroes on Memorial Day

Veterans at the Dublin VA Medical Center reflected on the meaning of Memorial Day.

DUBLIN, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Memorial Day was marked with deep respect at the Dublin VA Medical Center, where veterans and staff came together to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the country.

12-year Army veteran David Turner says he always looks to honor those who came before.

“And not just for this day, but for every day of our lives, we realize that there was someone before us, and they paid the ultimate price,” he said. “I always look at it as cashing in and cashing out.”

Turner says days like this make him feel proud to be an American.

“I feel like walking tall today,” he said. “To realize we had so many people today, it made me feel very good, the camaraderie we had. Especially these days and times, it’s just good to see veterans get together. We always will take care for one another, so I saw that today.”

He says it’s important that veterans see one another.

“A veteran can see within another veteran,” he said. “Also, that camaraderie that we have—it goes beyond these doors. We don’t mind talking to one another, and we love celebrating together, just as we mourn together, so that was a good thing.”

Marine Corps veteran Keith Walker says it’s an honor to be recognized in Dublin.

“It lets us know the importance of what we did, it lets us honor our friends,” he said. “It also lets our families know the impact of what they’re doing.”