Memorial Day observances continued this weekend with a ceremony at the Onondaga County Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

“First of all, a lot of my friends aren’t here and I did it in their respect.” Senior Vice District 5 Commander Paul Hrynio said.

“This memorial services that I do all week is a passion to me and I just give back to those who let me be free today,” Hrynio said.

Hrynio is a veteran of the War in Afghanistan who served his country for 27 years. For the past 30 years he has participated in the Memorial ceremony.

“I show everybody what it is to salute the flag, listen to taps, be in mourning for the veterans that gave their lives so that we could be here today,” Hrynio said.

Also at the ceremony was Marsha Connor, who lost her son in the line of duty.

“[My son was] Patrick Kelly Connor and he was a navy aviator in the Persian Gulf War on the U.S. Roosevelt,” she said.

Connor is part of the American Gold Star Mothers, which is a private non-profit organization that supports mothers who lost their sons or daughters in service in the United States. Connor says Patrick’s plane went missing during the war and he never came home.

“Easter Sunday, we got the message that Patrick was the only one found on Easter Sunday,” Connor said.

Even though she is grieving the loss of her child, Connor says the organization is helping people like her through the process.