By Tom Weber, KWMU
St. Louis – Hundreds gathered Monday morning for a windy Memorial Day ceremony at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery near St. Louis.
A small parade of soldiers made its way through the grounds before the service started.
In the middle of the crowd were two coffins, one with the U.S. flag, the other with a half-American, half-Confederate flag, to remember all American soldiers who have died in wars.
Don Palmer is the Missouri Department Commander of the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War.
"Sadly, through the passage of time, many have forgotten or are totally unaware of the sacrifices of our forefathers," Palmer said. "We must as a nation keep fresh in our memory those who gave the last full measure of devotion, no matter how long ago."
After the ceremony there was a re-creation of a Civil War-era Memorial Day, when the holiday was known as Decoration Day.