Honoring veterans should always important.

But for the hundreds assembled at the Veterans Memorial Park in Elgin and across the country Wednesday it took on even more meaning in light of last week's shooting at Fort Hood in which 13 soldiers died and 29 were wounded.

"We need to become even more aware of all our veterans. They can be in harm's way anywhere," said Tricia Dieringer, past commander at the Elgin American Legion Post 57.

The crowd attending Wednesday's ceremony was considerably smaller than last year, which marked the unveiling of the city's long-awaited memorial.

Mayor Ed Schock recognized those volunteers who helped plan the $750,000 project that "appropriately recognizes and acknowledges the contributions of all our veterans."

The mayor also honored Sara Sabo, assistant director of adult services at the Gail Borden Public Library, for her role in the library's participation in the Library of Congress's Veterans History Project.

In the project, which was part of the library's "Tapestry of Freedom" project last year, 20 area veterans were interviewed and their stories cataloged in Washington, D.C.

"This program was immensely gratifying," Sabo said. "The program was all about partnership."

The somber ceremony featured music from the Burlington Central High School band and choir and Floyd Brown, a Korean War veteran and radio personality, as the main speaker.

Brown, too, alluded to the Fort Hood shootings that authorities believe were carried out by a soldier with radical Islamic beliefs.

"We have soldiers and sailors and Marines that are dying everywhere, every day all over the world," he said. "The war is now on our ground. The enemy is here now. That was a true indication of it."

Dieringer said all veterans ask for is a simple "thank you."

"When you see a veteran, put out your hand an say, 'Thank you and welcome home,'" she said. "It's all we ever ask."