HANNIBAL, MO. -- For men and women across the country who have served or currently are serving in the United States military, Memorial Day is in remembrance of time served and comrades lost.

But for many others the meaning of this holiday sometimes gets lost.

KHQA's Jarod Wells was in Hannibal Monday morning to see the true meaning of Memorial Day.

What is a veteran?

People who attended the annual Memorial Day ceremony at Hannibal's American Legion Post 55 we're given a card with a quote on it.  It's titled "Definition of a Veteran" and "a veteran is someone who at one point in one's life, wrote a blank check made payable to the United States of America, for an amount of up to and including my life. That is honor and there are way too many people in this Country who no longer understand it."

American Legion Post 55 Commander Mike Battles said, "That's what this day is for, a day of remembrance for all of our veterans and our uniform services and any loved ones you might have had that have passed."

Wreaths were laid on the tomb of the unknown soldier in honor of those who gave their lives in each of the branches of the United States military.

The ceremony then moved to Hannibal's Nipper Park for a 21 gun salute.

Battles said, "As a veteran, it means that we should be honoring those fallen comrades, the ones that have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms, for the freedoms of everyone in the country,"

And not just a celebration of a day off.

Battles said, "Enjoy your barbecue and your day off, but make sure you're remembering that there's fallen people there that have gave you that day."

From Nipper Park people who attended the service rode to several different cemeteries in northeast Missouri and placed wreaths on the graves of fallen soldiers.