Before the gun salutes sounded and taps and bagpipes were played Saturday at Santa Fe National Cemetery, a select few stepped forward to place the first wreaths of remembrance as thousands gathered to look on.

The ceremony would soon send attendees across the rolling grounds that hold some 70,000 buried veterans and their family members. The local event was one of more than 5,200 taking place nationwide for National Wreaths Across America Day.

Facing a cold wind and a silent crowd, Guy Arellano laid a wreath for missing-in-action service members. Wayland Strickland followed, laying one for the Marines. Shirley Tetreault placed hers for the Air Force. All three come from Gold Star families, having undergone the experience of outliving children who died because of their service in the coun

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