A Gulfport funeral home honors veterans with a trip to the National World War II Museum: recognizing their sacrifices for America

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Gulfport's Reimann Family Funeral Homes brought a large group of retired Veterans from the Mississippi Gulf Coast to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans on Wednesday (Nov. 6), less than a week before Veterans Day.

This trip to the WWII museum is Reimann's way of thanking these men and women for their service to our country.

"There is a story that's told by every single one of them," said Reimann Family Funeral Homes director Chad Reimann.

Ronald Pelland and his two brothers are all veterans, and they said the WWII museum brings back their memories of serving in the military.

Pelland says he didn't fight, but he did experience tragedy.

"Just kept loading in bombs heading over to Vietnam," Pelland said.

"Too many people were losing their lives and their homes," he said. "I had some friends that went over to Vietnam and didn't make it back, tears your heart up."

Doris Jones also toured the museum. She said she was a nurse in Vietnam.

"It was really some experience," Jones said. "Gunshot wounds and stuff like that, blown away limb's arms and legs."

This is the funeral home's 12th annual Veterans trip.

Riemann said he thinks veterans' sacrifices can sometimes go unnoticed and they should be remembered and honored.

"Every picture in this museum, there's a story behind it," he said.

"Something I think we all as Americans need to do more of. Just a small token to show them how much we do appreciate them."

The museum said the number of WWII veterans is decreasing with over 119,000 still alive.

Jones said that's why educating the younger generations on the sacrifices of those who came before them is important.

"They shouldn't forget about them," she said. "Don't forget about what they did to save democracy and fight for freedom for everybody."