NORTH OGDEN, Utah — Veterans Day is this coming Thursday.

It’s one of the more popular holidays in Utah because of our military connections, but people in North Ogden didn’t want to wait another four days to celebrate.

Even as the wind blew and blankets were taken out of their summer resting places Sunday, you could still feel the warmth in North Ogden.

Hundreds of people came to Barker Park to listen to a late afternoon devotional focused on veterans.

“I thank you for those who have served, who are currently serving, and that will serve,” said one of the speakers on stage.

Veterans Day is still a few days away, but people here will tell you it should be every day.

“It’s easy to take it for granted, but it reminds us how precious our liberties are,” said Dave Wald.

It’s why Dave and Mona Wald bundled up with their children and brought a blanket to sit on the amphitheater grass.

They wanted to listen to the ceremony.

There’s a pretty good crowd gathered at Barker Park in North Ogden. There’s a devotional to kick off and celebrate events planned here this week for Veterans Day. We’re doing a story on this for @KSL5TV at 10. pic.twitter.com/w2ca0VnyLJ

— Alex Cabrero (@KSL_AlexCabrero) November 7, 2021

Sunday night’s event helped celebrate the city’s weeklong list of events for Veterans Week.

Their motto is “Now, more than ever.”

Seeing people united instead of divided gave Navy veteran Scott Sparks hope.

“I just love that enough people showed up and still care,” he said. “Especially seeing all the kids and the youth. It was nice to see them watching it all and learning.”

For everything happening at the ceremony in front of her, though, Mona Wald couldn’t help but notice the big flag flying in the canyon behind her.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it,” she said while looking at the flag. “We’ve lived it firsthand — the sacrifice our community has had to suffer. It’s just not been the same since Mayor Taylor passed away.”

The flag, called “The Major,” is named after Major Brent Taylor.

He is the former mayor of North Ogden who was killed in Afghanistan.

Taylor’s wife, Jennie, helped organize the North Ogden event as part of the Major Brent Taylor Foundation.

“How grateful we are to be here tonight,” she said to the crowd.

Sunday night was all about thanking those who have served for all they’ve done.

And doing it on a day besides Veterans Day.

“We always tell them, thank you, it was our pleasure, which it was,” said Sparks. “I would do it again in a heartbeat.”