Photos by Kyle Green | The Roanoke Times

Roanoke Mayor David Bowers (right) shakes hands Monday with Earl Worley, who served in the Army during World War II, as fellow veterans gather at the Roanoke Valley War Memorial for a Memorial Day ceremony in Roanoke's Lee Plaza.

A veteran's hat displays several of his medals, including a Bronze Star (left) and a Purple Heart.

Army veteran Alvin Crutchfield plays taps on the trumpet Monday at the Roanoke Valley War Memorial during a Memorial Day ceremony in Lee Plaza in Roanoke.

Carolyn Edwards attends the Memorial Day ceremony at the Roanoke Valley War Memorial in Lee Plaza in memory of her husband, Ronnie Sparks, who died in Vietnam. Veterans Charles Conn (left) and James Stone also attend.

Around the region Monday, residents paused to remember military men and women who have died while defending their country.

From Radford to Roanoke, American flags were flown, military paraphernalia worn and hands held in salute in observance of Memorial Day.

For the 37th year, the Roanoke Valley Veterans Council hosted a brief ceremony in Lee Plaza downtown.

"We have to remember the veterans every day, not just Memorial Day," said Lt. Col. Daniel Karnes, president of the council. "We should never forget those that sacrificed for this country."

Bugler Alvin Crutchfield played taps, and William Byrd High School's Junior ROTC posted the colors under a cloudy sky in front of about 100 people, many in lawn chairs.

Roanoke Mayor David Bowers was the keynote speaker, giving a brief history of Memorial Day and reading the ceremonial proclamation.

"It is a solemn moment," Bowers said of the holiday. "They are with us in our memory."

Alex McCadden, 7, attended the ceremony with her grandfather Mac McCadden, a former Roanoke city councilman.

Her mother has been in Iraq for the past two years and will be home in July.

McCadden, who also serves on the board of the American Legion Post 3, said he comes every year to show his support.

Certain people "may be against wars and conflicts, but they shouldn't diss the people that protect their freedom," McCadden said.

Many different people came, from those who served to people who lost loved ones to those who simply wanted to pay their respect.

"I don't think anyone should forget," said Ray Smith, who attended the service with his wife, Carolyn, after seeing notices about the event.

Before people in the crowd examined the marble monuments listing dozens of names of those killed, Karnes made a plea for a monument of some type to be placed on the old Victory Stadium site.

Built during World War II, it would be fitting to have some type of tribute to soldiers there, even though the stadium was torn down in 2006, Karnes said.

In Radford, about 300 people visited Bisset Park to honor the 59 Radford residents who have died in wars throughout history.

That event was started by a group of local residents 11 years ago because of a lack of area services. Monday's event included the Radford High School band and a 21-gun salute by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 776, committee Chairman Bob Thomas said.

New this year, a plaque honoring World War I veterans was added to the Bisset Park Veterans Memorial Garden.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Memorial Day started as Decoration Day in May 1868 when people would decorate the graves of dead soldiers around the country. The holiday didn't become official until 1971.