The tone was somber and hearts were heavy Tuesday afternoon, as soldiers, civilians and officials waited for 13 men and women to be honored.
People from all walks of life came to show their support for the 12 fallen soldiers and the one fallen civilian during the fatal mass shootings at Fort Hood last Thursday.
"I feel sad, sad for the loss of these brave men and women, but thankful for their lives," memorial attendant Karen Corley said. "I thank God for the lives and the healing that will take place in the hearts of the ones who are wounded.
Corley traveled about four hours just to show her support for the fallen and the wounded.
Her son was injured when he went to serve in Iraq, and she felt a sense of obligation to be there for those who served alongside him overseas.
Alisha Cusimano lives at Fort Hood with her son and her husband.
"I don't expect my husband to be attacked on his home ground and especially not by one of his own," she said.
When Spc. Brian Hall learned about the attacks his emotions ran high and a sense of betrayal overwhelmed him.
"These are the people you rely on every day," he said.
During the ceremony however, Hall said he was still proud to be of service to his country.
"I'm proud we are all here to honor the fallen," Spc. Brian Hall said. "We're ready to get this place back to normal and for things to be back to normal."
Sgt. 1st Class. Jason Kerns and his wife Collette live on base. Collette and her son were at their home when the attack happened, Sgt. 1st Class. Kerns was in Fort Bliss.
"We heard the sirens, but we couldn't hear what they were saying, so we just went inside," Collette said.
They came Tuesday despite the fact they didn't know any of the fallen or wounded. For them, the most emotional part of the ceremony came during roll call.
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A community heals
News 8’s Karina Kling has more on how Tuesday’s memorial brought a sense of peace to last Thursday’s unspeakable tragedy.
 
Grieving together
News 8’s Bonnie Gonzalez speaks with attendees at Tuesday’s memorial.
The Fallen
President Obama speaks about each of the victims of the mass shootings at Fort Hood.
Panorama
A quick glimpse of the numbers of people that attended the memorial service.
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"It really sinks in. I didn't know any of the people that died, but I still feel it," Collette said.
Others at the ceremony felt the same.
"Final roll call needed to happen. We needed to hear the silence of those soldiers not saying, 'Here sergeant major,'" Sgt. Albert Cusimano said.
His wife agreed.
"The silence spoke louder than anything. The silence spoke volumes about what one man did," Cusimano said.
Gen. George Casey Jr. called the attack a kick in the gut.
"Nineteen children, spouses, parents and untold lovers were left behind," he said.
Casey then read a scripture from the "Book of Isaiah" from The Bible:
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah 6:8
He said the scripture epitomizes the role of those in the army. They are always willing to step up to the call of duty.
He also wanted to help the healing process.
"Grieve with us, don't grieve for us," Gen. Casey said.
Trisha Moore is a resident of Killeen who came to the memorial to grieve with her community. "It's excellent for the soldiers that got wounded and for the other soldiers morale to let them know that the country does support what they're doing," Moore said.
When President Obama took the stage, he spoke about each of the fallen and told about the roles the held in society.
"We say goodbye to those who now belong to eternity," Obama said. "May God bless the memory of those we lost and may God bless the United States of America."
After the event, as soldiers filed out, each seemed to feel the emotions of the families and friends of the fallen; each seemed to feel the loss of each of the 13 victims that died as a result of one man.
