‘They answered a call’: Miami Beach ceremony honors the fallen on Memorial Day

The sun was bright at the Miami Beach Police Department as nearly 150 people showed up in 83-degree weather Monday morning to pay respects to active, retired and fallen members of the Armed Forces.

“It’s a sacred day of remembrance,” said retired Army Lt. Col. Jackie Tam. “We want to pause and honor those that never made it home. They answered a call greater than themselves.”

Tam served in the Army for 30 years and is the post commander at VFW Post 3559 on West Avenue in Miami Beach.

During the hourlong event, elected officials extended their appreciation for military service members and their work. A moment of silence was held in honor of those who have died, and a 21-gun salute was loudly held in their memory.

“What we can do is stand here today and every day and thank them, and honor them and their families,” said Miami Beach Mayor Steve Meiner. “Because we would not be sitting here with the freedoms and the democracy that sometimes we take for granted.”

The crowd included Girl Scouts, police officers and military family members. One Girl Scout from Miami Beach, Tala Shaal, walked through the crowd handing out poppy flowers in support of military veterans.

A Scouts’ adviser, Jill Nolden is based in Aventura and is a past president of VFW Post 3559. She takes pride in the work that her scouts do. As the daughter of a World War II veteran, Memorial Day has an added meaning for her.

“It’s important every year that I show up,” she said. “My father was a World War II veteran and served our country for 22 years. I lost him when I was 6 years old.”

To end the festivities, Shaal and two other Girl Scouts sang “America the Beautiful” with a youthful vigor that made the crowd smile.

“May we never forget the fallen, and may we always honor their sacrifice,” Tam said.