MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – The city of Myrtle Beach held a ceremony on Monday day to thank those who served and sacrificed for our country.

Hundreds gathered for the Memorial Day Ceremony at the plaza of the Convention Center.

It was a time to honor those who serve and for some, continue their service in new ways.

“I gave my country what I could give them, what little bit I could give, I gave,” said D.L. Koontz, a Vietnam Veteran.

“And when I came back I had agent orange, I had PTSD, I’m half deaf. That’s alright. That’s the price you pay for freedom, I can handle that,” said Koontz.

He doesn’t let his ailments keep him down and since moving to Myrtle Beach, Koontz has worked to make the Memorial Day ceremony the best it can be.

“The city basically puts it all together. all I do is check with the other outfits to make sure their going to come and make sure I have everyone in alignment,” said Koontz.

Koontz has served as co-chairman of the Patriotic Alliance for the past two years and was happy to see the hundreds who came out on Monday.

“It was wonderful. It was heartwarming because I know there was a threat of rain and the crowd was unbelievable, to get up and wave the flag and sway with the music it was just heartfelt for me as a veteran,” said Koontz.

“It was very nice. All the veterans were thanked, all the veterans who served, all the veterans who didn’t make it,” said fellow veteran Martin Gray.

“I feel D. L. needs to be thanked for that,” said Gray.

But for Koontz no thanks was needed, “it was a labor of love because you can never turn away a veteran.”

For Gray, the event was especially meaningful because his granddaughter, Victoria Gray, a student at CCU; wrote a letter about what Memorial Day meant to her and it was read aloud.

Another ceremony honoring veterans happened at the Market Common in Myrtle Beach.

The city wrapped up its annual Military Appreciation Days with a free trip to the movies, for a patriotic documentary.

The Carolina Forest Junior ROTC Naval Color Guard also took part in the 6th annual Memorial Day Tribute, which featured a patriotic film, free to the public.