COLUMBIA, MO. -- Dozens of people gathered at Columbia’s Truman Veterans’ Hospital for this year’s Veterans Day ceremony.

Dozens of veterans from WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and other American conflicts paid their respects to their fallen brothers and sisters.

World War II Air Force Veteran Virgil Moore spent 14 days as a prison of war in Germany.

The Nazis shot the Columbia man out the sky during his 19th mission near Berlin.

Moore said Veterans Day is one of the most important days of the year.

“It’s a time when I stop and look back at the days gone by," Moore said. "I appreciate being here and to be able to live again.”

Gerry Hodge of the Missouri Veterans Commission sang the national anthem at the ceremony.