Column: Honoring our veterans, funerals and silent battles

As a funeral director, I’ve stood with many families saying goodbye. Each service is different, but the military honors always hit me the hardest. When the flag is folded with such care and handed to a family member, when "Taps" plays over a quiet crowd, and especially when those shots ring out during the 21-gun salute—those moments stay with me.

Those gunshots aren’t just part of a ceremony. They echo deep. They remind us of what our veterans have been through, what they’ve given up, and sometimes what they’re still struggling with even after the uniforms come off.

At the Salisbury VA Cemetery, the ceremonies are always moving. They’re full of respect and honor. But even with all that tradition and formality, I often think about what we’re not seeing. Many of our veterans are still fighting battles long after they’ve come home. These aren’t battles we can see. They’re struggles, like PTSD, anxiety, and depression, sometimes lead to homelessness. And those needs deserve just as much attention as physical wounds.

There’s something else at the Salisbury VA that speaks volumes. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. It’s a quiet spot, but it carries a powerful message. It stands for all the service members who never made it home with a name. We may not know who they are, but we still honor them. That tomb is a reminder that every veteran matters—whether their story is known or not.

This Memorial Day, I hope we remember more than the ones we’ve lost. Let’s also stand by the veterans who are still with us and need support. Let’s talk about mental health. Let’s check in on our neighbors who served. Let’s make sure they know they’re not alone.

Honoring veterans doesn’t end at the cemetery. It continues in the way we care for them every day.