DALLAS — The Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery held its Veterans Day celebration on Monday to honor and celebrate this nation’s heroes.
“Remembering the sacrifice that these men and women, what they did and how they made a difference,” Stephanie Johnson said.
Johnson attended the ceremony to honor her dad, David C. Johnson Jr.
“It’s really harder now, especially during the holidays,” she said. “My dad was my best friend and still is my best friend.”
David C. Johnson Jr. was in the United States Army and served in the Vietnam War. Her father passed away in 2021.
“To celebrate and just to remember him and remember what he did for our country in the sacrifice that he made for our country and to remember him,” she said.
The keynote speaker of the ceremony was Captain Beau Hufstetler, Commanding Officer, NAS Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth.
“I’m sincerely honored to spend this Veteran’s Day here with each one of you on these hallowed grounds, where every headstone represents an individual who believed that our lives and our freedoms were worth the sacrifice,” Hufstetler said.
Among the veterans and families of veterans in the crowd were Joann Woolbright and Lura Evans. Woolbright and Evans are daughters of Jack McCurley, a Navy World War II Veteran.
“He was my everything,” Evans said. “...And I miss him terribly.”
McCurley was born in 1928 and passed away on March 10, 2024.
“My dad meant everything to me, he taught me values,” Woolbright said.
Evans and Woolbright invite anyone to come and visit the DFW National Cemetery.
“It’s very tranquil. And it lets you know that even though they’re not here, they are always here,” Evans said.
Hufstetler thanked the crowd of Veterans and families for attending the ceremony.
“At the end of the day, it's not our weapons or our technology that make our military the greatest in the world. Our true strength lies in our people," Hufstetler said.