A three gun salute and the sound of "Taps" echoed throughout downtown Jefferson City and St. Peter Catholic Church Monday following St. Peter's Veteran's Day Service.
"This day, the entire nation turns attention inwards and offers heartfelt thanks to those who have served and those who are," said Rev. Nicholas Reid during the service.
Veterans and their families, community members, law enforcement and various veterans organizations were a part of the congregation.
Nov. 11 not only marks Veterans Day, but also the Feast of St. Martin.
Reid told a story of St. Martin. He cut his cloak in half to share with a beggar, saving the man from dying in the cold. That night, Martin dreamed of Jesus, and that Jesus was wearing half of the cloak. The dream encouraged Martin to be baptized.
"Martin's story teaches us that we each are called on ourselves to serve those who need it most," Reid said.
He related the story to veterans serving their country.
He said that after Holy Family Church's Sunday service in Freeburg, where he is associate pastor, the American Legion and parishioners followed him 363 paces from the church to the cemetery, where he blessed a monument of someone who never came home from the Vietnam War.
He said the experience was one he couldn't prepare for.
He went on to thank the congregation at Monday's mass for their service.
"Thank you that the great America is never extinguished," Reid said. "Not on our watch."