LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) — The community gathered around the veteran’s section at Fountain Memorial Funeral Home and Cemetery today, paying their respect to those who put their lives on the line for the United States.

The program consisted of words of encouragement, the National Anthem and a 21-gun salute from the Acadiana Veterans honor guards.

Jim Webber says he’s honored to be able to be apart of today’s ceremony.

“I think it’s the most important thing we can do today is to honor those people and the families because they were just as much of a member of that service as the deceased one,” said Webber.

The Gauthier family spent their morning honoring those killed in action as well. Douglas Gauthier says attending the ceremony is a family tradition.

“It’s the least we can do,” said Gauthier. “Being that none of us are in the military this is just our way to serve our nation.”

For the Gauthier family, today is about remembering those who selflessly put their lives on the line for our freedom.

“Before we do the typical backyard celebration we want to take out the time to honor those who gave us that right.”