SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — People from various backgrounds gathered at Camp Butler National Cemetery in Sangamon County to witness the wreath-laying ceremony honoring military members who sacrificed their lives.

More than 20,000 veterans from the Civil War to Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and their family members are buried at Camp Butler.

U.S. Representatives Mary Miller and Nikki Budzinski were the honored speakers at the event. They paid homage to the over 60,000 Illinois citizens who have perished while defending the country since the Civil War.

“May we never forget that freedom is never free,” Miller said. “And may we live our lives in a way that honors the sacrifice that has been given.”

Budzinski spoke about how the day is special to her, as she’s the granddaughter of two World War II veterans.

“Coming from a family with a history of service instills in me a deep appreciation and sense of gratitude for veterans,” she said. “Their service ensures the protection of the freedoms and liberties we cherish daily in this nation.”

Cemetery director Jimmy Allen said the focus of the day should be to remember more than the names.

“It’s so much more than a cemetery with headstones,” the director said. “It’s a tapestry of time within our nation and all our different turning points and conflicts.”

He challenged attendees to reflect on their connections to fallen veterans.

“Because remembrance is not passive, it is something we choose,” Allen said at the ceremony. “And in choosing to remember, we carry these stories forward.”

Camp Butler officials encourage everyone to learn more about veterans buried in national cemeteries using the Veterans Legacy Memorial.