WHITEHOUSE, Ohio — Many of you or your neighbors spent Memorial Day at ceremonies and parades honoring our fallen service members.
But for some, they choose to find peace and quiet because every year, this day really hits home.
No one chooses to be a Gold Star family. It's a designation given to the immediate family members of a servicemember who died in combat.
Tiffany Eckert lost her husband Andy in 2005. He was in the Army, serving overseas in Iraq.
It's been almost two decades since his death, but she said that each time this holiday comes, it's always an emotional one.
"For families like mine, Memorial Day is every day," Tiffany Eckert said.
Eckert said her first real Memorial Day came not long after her husband Andy was killed while serving in Iraq.
"This is a more somber, deep reminder of the gravity of our loss," she said. "It's hard to put into words."
A typical Memorial Day for her and her kids is spent at home. She said they do that on purpose, so they can feel closer to Andy.
But this year is a little different.
"This year, I attended multiple events and it's truly because I was feeling strong enough to do that," Eckert said. "I was feeling strong enough to stand through taps and the 21-gun salute and to hear people's words without it being as difficult."
She said it was the first time in 18 years that she was able to be part of a Memorial Day ceremony.
Her day is also spent at Andy's grave in Whitehouse and at Veterans Memorial Park, just down the street from where he's buried.
"I always come to say 'hi' to Andy, even though he's not here," she said.
Andy Eckert is the most recent of the names on the wall.
Tiffany Eckert had a hand in creating the park and designing the water feature. She said it's her favorite, especially when she sits to visit him.
"This one means the most to me because this is in the community that we live in. This is the community where he went to high school. This is where he wanted us to live. This is where he is buried," Eckert said. "This stone, these words, everything that's etched here, will be here long after I'm gone."
She said Andy is still with her. It's what makes this day, and many others, a little bit easier.
"I love Andy. I will always love Andy, no matter where life takes me. I just have been thinking about that all day. He was my best friend," she said.
Eckert says she hopes everyone took some time out of their day today to remember why we have this holiday and the people who died serving our country.