At the ringing sound of spent rifle casings hitting the pavement at the Orem Cemetery, a bugler began his solemn hymn to the fallen.

It was an hour of mourning, an hour of prayer and an hour of remembrance Monday as men, women and children from around the Orem paid tribute to the fallen, their honored dead.

The young grand-nephew and grand-niece of Shirley Atkinson stood by a marble plaque and pointed to the graven name of their great uncle -- Allen Powers.

Several hundred people gathered on the grassy hill above the copper and marble war memorial and together heard and sung hymns and anthems.

Utah's senior U.S. senator, Orrin Hatch, spoke to the crowd.

"Our family does understand a little bit about war," said Hatch after briefly recounting that four of his family members who have been lost in battle.

Among his most prized possessions, he says, is the flag that was draped over his brothers coffin. Hatch's older brother Jesse died in Word War II when Hatch was just 10 years old. He said he was so affected by it he got a white streak in his hair. "I was the most distinguished looking 10 year old," said Hatch, lightening the mood.

Hatch spent a much of his time speaking to the ongoing war on terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"We can't just leave and expect everything to be hunky-dory. We need to win, and we can win if we don't loose our guts," he said. "Our military boys haven't lost their guts, I can tell you that."

The senator contrasted the conflict with that in Vietnam, saying that one of the differences between this and Vietnam is that the Vietnamese weren't attacking our country.

Hatch also spoke to the patriotism of Utahns. "This is one of the most patriotic areas in the country, in the world, as a matter of fact," he said.

Richard Broderick, a retired Army Sergeant came to thank the Senator for helping him get his paycheck when he was stationed in Germany more than 20 years ago. "When you're a private, you don't know what to do, you feel helpless," Broderick explained that Hatch took the time to help him when he was serving and was in need.

At the appointed hour, following the Senator's speech, all rose for the flag exchange ceremony. The crowd watched, some with hands over their hearts, others staring quietly as the old flag was lowered and retired. A new flag was raised to the top and then, in a gesture of remembrance brought back stand at half staff.

Across from the memorial statues and flags, an Army Jeep was parked. On its hood was a pad of paper, and a set of pens with a sign reading, "write a letter to a soldier," The Jeep was surrounded by people of all ages busily writing letters.

Kathy Luke came to the service with a friend. She said that she usually comes and puts flowers on the graves of some of her loved ones, but she said that it is still easy to forget what Memorial Day is all about. "It's been powerful," Luke said of the hour-long service.

Some distance from the event, a man bearing one child on his shoulders with another walking behind trying to keep up, could be heard teaching his children about the importance of the day.

"And why is it important that we remember themfi" he asked.

Nathan Johnson can be reached at 344-2543 or at njohnson@heraldextra.com.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page A1.