While President Barack Obama attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, members of Union High School's Civil Air Patrol re-enacted the ceremony a little closer to home.
Arlie Ponds, who watched the students at Floral Haven Cemetery in Broken Arrow, summed up the meaning of Memorial Day about as well anyone could. "In defense of our nation, in defense of our freedom and our liberty, they paid the ultimate price. They gave their lives. They shed their blood for our freedom and liberty."
Here are some images from Memorial Day ceremonies around the country and a video from today's ceremony in Broken Arrow featuring Arlie Ponds.
A rose lays atop the gravestone of Army Sgt. Andrew Looney in Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Va., Monday, May 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
A San Francisco Giants fan waves an American flag during Memorial Day at a baseball game between the San Francisco Giants and the Arizona Diamondbacks in San Francisco, Monday, May 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Michelle Dunlap, Springfield, kisses the tombstone of her boyfriend, David. C. Beezley who died in 2009 after serving in Army in the 82nd Airborne and doing tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Springfield, Mo., Monday, May 28, 2012. (AP Photo/The Springfield News-Leader, Dean Curtis)
John Landree, 11, a drummer with The Sons of Confederate Veterans, rests in the shade prior to The Ladies' Memorial Association's 146th Memorial Day Observance at the Fredericksburg Confederate Cemetery in Fredericksburg, Va., Monday, May 28, 2012. (AP Photo/The Free Lance-Star, Dave Ellis)
President Barack Obama, left, walks in with Maj. Gen. Michael S. Linnington, center, Commander of the U.S. Army Military District of Washington, for the wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28, 2012, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
In this Saturday, May 26, 2012 photo, scouts light up more than 17,000 candles before the 2012 Fredericksburg National Cemetery Lumnaria at the Fredericksburg National Cemetery in Fredericksburg, Va. (AP Photo/The Free Lance-Star, Peter Cihelka)
People attending the American Legion Post 21 Memorial Day observance head for cover just as the event was about to begin when rain from outer bands of Tropical Depression Beryl passed through the Summerville, S.C., area Monday, May 28, 2012. Organizers quickly elected to cancel the observance due to the inclement weather. (AP Photo/The Post and Courier, Brad Nettles)
John Ryan, of Oriskady, N.Y., places roses at the grave of a soldier he did not know in Section 60 on Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery, in Arlington, Va., Monday, May 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)
Boy Scout Troop #305 member Hunter Lynn carries an American flag along Main Street in Walla Walla, Wash., on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28, 2012. Lynn and other scouts place flags along the streets of downtown Walla Walla and team up every year with members of Jonathan M Wainwright AMVETS Post #1111 to start Memorial Day with a banner display. (AP Photo/Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, Jeff Horner)
Veronica Grace is surrounded by flag-adorned veterans' graves at Riverside National Cemetery, Saturday, May 26, 2012. The flags were placed by Orange County volunteers. (AP Photo/Orange County Register, Mindy Schauer)
A Marine salutes as motorcycles drive past during the annual Rolling Thunder parade ahead of Memorial Day in Washington, Sunday, May 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
President Barack Obama, left, walks in with Maj. Gen. Michael S. Linnington, center, Commander of the U.S. Army Military District of Washington, for the wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28, 2012, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Civil Air Patrol Senior Airman Noah McNac takes part in a re-enactment of guarding a replica of the Tomb of the Unknowns during Memorial Day festivities at Floral Haven Cemetery May 27, 2012. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World
Only active print or digital subscribers of the Tulsa World are allowed to post comments on stories posted to Tulsaworld.com. After you fill out the form below and click submit, your comment will be published instantly online along with your screen name.
By clicking "Submit" you are agreeing to our terms and conditions.
