When Floyd Cain was drafted to serve during the Vietnam War, he found war provided common ground to talk to his father.
"My dad served in World War II," Cain said. "He went in on an Army invasion and was a prisoner of war for nine months and 14 days."
On Sunday, Floyd and his wife, Beverly, placed memorial flowers on his parents' graves at the Centertown Cemetery.
During his father's captivity, he was presumed dead by family. He returned home and later married Ada.
For the holiday, Cain said he feels fortunate to visit their graves and place flowers in their honor. Born and raised in Centertown, the tradition shows respect to veterans and recognizes family values.
"It's honoring your father, your mother, your grandmother, your grandfather, everyone - no matter whether they served or whether they didn't," Cain said. "The ones that did, I feel like got a special gratitude because that's why we still got our freedom that we have today."
"I just feel like the veterans were the ones who fought to keep that. Maybe by choice, maybe not by choice, but they still did their duty. And, I think there's a lot of other people out there that didn't, that would have. And, I think they ought to be honored just as well."
On the 57th Central Missouri Honor Flight last week, Cain, with 110 other American veterans, visited several memorials in Washington, D.C. Sites such as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial and National World War II Memorial took him back.
Floyd said it was hard to recall those moments, but he felt honored.
"The Vietnam War wasn't very highly thought of," Cain said. "It's hard for people to understand. You took a lot of slack when you were a veteran coming back from Vietnam."
Despite the criticism then, times have changed; he said all veterans get more respect.
"Things stick with you, but you have to put them to rest," he said." And this (the trip) was a lot easier I guess to put to rest."
Beverly and Floyd Cain met before he went into the service. They have been married for 45 years, and she said she is proud to be the wife of a veteran.
"It was a great sacrifice they gave," Beverly said. "They kind of didn't get the recognition they deserved when they got home."
Ahead of the holiday, the Centertown Board of Trustees decorated more than 100 veterans' graves with American flags.
As families came to pay respects, a member of the Centertown Cemetery Board collected donations on site. President Jim Plaster said they received $4,000-$6,000 in donations during Memorial Day weekend.
Donations cover the cost of lawn care of the 5 acres. In 2018, the board installed a new fence and entryway. This year, updating the pavilion is an identified project.
Wilma Distler, vice president and caretaker of the grounds, said having the flags up each year is appreciated by the community. She joined the six-member board after her husband, Marvin, died last year.
Memorial flowers are scheduled to be taken down by June 15. Community members may drop off donations at the cemetery or contact the board.