Veterans, Gold Star Families remember fallen at RI Veterans Memorial Cemetery

Daniel Coates,

EXETER, R.I. (WLNE) — At the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Gold Star Families and state leaders paid their respects to the fallen soldiers that died for our freedoms.

30,000 American flags at the cemetery represented the men and women who died in service to the nation.

Rep. Seth Magaziner, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Senator Jack Reed and more spoke to the hundreds in attendance Monday.

“Every generation of Americans has it’s heroes,” said Reed. “Those that answer the call to serve protect and defend.”

Lynn St. Germaine-Lundh’s son, Brian, died during his second tour in Iraq in April of 2006.

“Every day, I would come home and peak out of the corner of my eye to make sure that government car wasn’t in front of my house,” said St. Germaine-Lundh. “We weren’t that lucky the second time, and many other families had to get that call and car in front of their house.”

She finished, “There is really nothing happy about losing a family member about losing a battle buddy… You and I can have our barbecues, we can practice our religion, all because men and women have died.”
This was Rhode Island’s 49th annual ceremony honoring the holiday.
Categories: News, Rhode Island

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