Photo gallery: Utahns pay tribute to those who served, their families, the military

The Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs hosted a special Memorial Day ceremony Monday at the Capitol, one of many across the state and around the nation.

Sen. John Curtis and Utah Attorney General Derek Brown spoke to the assembled crowd.

The event included a 21-gun salute as well as a wreath and flag display.

Later, Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson told a crowd of service members and their families at a Memorial Day service at Larkin Sunset Gardens cemetery Monday, that while Utahns pay respect to loved ones, they should never forget the sacrifices made by so many in the name of freedom.

“I hope that we can all remember this is more than a holiday. This is a holy day. This is a day of remembrance,” she said. “It’s a day of deep gratitude and reflection. It’s also a day of celebration because what we have been given is so dear it must be remembered and it must be celebrated.”

Deseret News photojournalists captured the poignant moments of Monday’s Veterans Day celebrations.