Veterans honored, remembered during Gilbert ceremony

GILBERT, Ariz. — The city of Gilbert held a special ceremony Friday in order to honor veterans for their service and sacrifice.

The ceremony, which took place at the Southeast Regional Library near Greenfield and Guadalupe roads, was part of Rep. Matt Salmon’s annual Salute to Veterans Resource Clinic.

“The words are so inadequate to ever thank you completely for all you’ve done, but from the bottom from my heart and from my family, I thank you,” Salmon said to a group of about 100 veterans.

During the ceremony, Salmon presented a special flag to the family of Army Specialist Wyatt Martin from Mesa, who died in Afghanistan last December.

“This token doesn’t even come close to expressing the appreciation we have for your family, but you’re in our prayers,” Salmon said to the family about Martin. “This flag was flown over the U.S. Capitol in Wyatt’s honor.”

While Memorial Day is for remembering veterans who have died while serving the United States, Salmon also focused on those who return from service saying issues of wait times, waste and failures at the Veteran Affair’s Administration are still persistent and need the attention of Congress.

After the ceremony, Veterans Resource Clinic representatives were available to provide assistance and information about services to former service members.