Veterans Day 2018

Fireworks take to the sky behind the American flag as the National Anthem is performed by Casey Janet Mills at the Veterans Day Ceremony Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, at North County Park in Cape Girardeau. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Robert Duckworth, a 101 year old World War II veteran, center, recites the Pledge of Allegiance at the Veterans Day Ceremony Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, at North County Park in Cape Girardeau. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Community members pray together at the Veterans Day Ceremony Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, at North County Park in Cape Girardeau. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Clint Tracy, CDR USN and Cape County Commissioner, introduces guests and tells the story of the Veterans Memorial Plaza at the Veterans Day Ceremony Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, at North County Park in Cape Girardeau. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Rick Sinclair kneels and listens at the Veterans Day Ceremony Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, at North County Park in Cape Girardeau. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Capt. David Cantrell speaks about the Avenue of Flags and introduces keynote speaker Peter Kinder, former Lt. Governor of Missouri (not pictured), at the Veterans Day Ceremony Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, at North County Park in Cape Girardeau. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Keynote speaker Peter Kinder, former Lt. Governor of Missouri, speaks at the Veterans Day Ceremony Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, at North County Park in Cape Girardeau. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Keynote speaker Peter Kinder, former Lt. Governor of Missouri, speaks at the Veterans Day Ceremony Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, at North County Park in Cape Girardeau. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

City of Cape Girardeau Mayor Bob Fox, right, proclaims Cape Girardeau as a Purple Heart City at the Veterans Day Ceremony Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, at North County Park in Cape Girardeau. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Dr. Andrew Moore, far left, performs "America" while at the Veterans Day Ceremony Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, at North County Park in Cape Girardeau. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Bill Humphries, USN HM1 Ret., plays "Taps" during the Veterans Day Ceremony Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, at North County Park in Cape Girardeau. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Roger Cary, chaplain of VFW Post 3838, gives the closing benediction at the Veterans Day Ceremony Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, at North County Park in Cape Girardeau. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Jaime Hayes holds her daughter Abigail, 3, while her other daughter Ava, 5, points up at her grandfather's name on the memorial wall while at the Veterans Day Ceremony Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, at North County Park in Cape Girardeau. Jaime's father, James Heiden's, name is engraved on the new memorial wall at Memorial Plaza. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Misti Laws holds her niece Ava Hayes, 5, as she points to her grandfather's name (and Law's father's name), James Heiden, at the Veterans Day Ceremony Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, at North County Park in Cape Girardeau. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Abigail Hayes, 3, puts her finger on her grandfather's names, James Heiden, engraved on the new memorial wall at the Veterans Day Ceremony Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, at North County Park in Cape Girardeau. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

Mike Francis, of the Marine Corps League Detachment 1081, wears his uniform hat proudly at the Veterans Day Ceremony Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, at North County Park in Cape Girardeau. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)

The Avenue of Flags is seen through the window of a shuttle at the Veterans Day Ceremony Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, at North County Park in Cape Girardeau. (Kassi Jackson ~ Southeast Missourian)