It was an emotional weekend for veterans around the nation.

World War II came to an end decades ago and a special ceremony was held at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.

Sara Birch and her husband showed up early for the ceremony. Her father was a World War II veteran and remembering him brought tears to her eyes.

"Pride, proud of my dad," she said. "Proud of what he taught us about honoring your country and serving."

The Florida National Cemetery held a wreath-laying ceremony Sunday morning to mark the end of World War II 70 years ago. The event was also about honoring the men and women that served during that war, like Birch's father.

"He was very proud to be part of the service," she said. "He always said the service changed his life for the better."

The official end of the war came on Aug. 14, 1945. It is an important date that passes unnoticed for many of us, but not for 93-year-old Hal Packard. He was a combat medic and remembers exactly what he did when the war ended.


Hal Packard, 95, was the only World War II veteran to make it to the ceremony.

"We celebrated with a little medical alcohol, 180 proof," he said, laughing.

Birch's mother and father are both buried at the cemetery. It was a modest turnout for the ceremony, but Birch and her husband would not have been anywhere else.

"We felt the need that we wanted to be here to honor not only my dad, but all the soldiers that are here," she said.

A touching ceremony to say thank you and remember a historic day seven decades ago.

Hal Packard was the only World War II veteran to make it to the ceremony. Cemetery officials say we are losing 490 World War II veterans every day.