These are the graves of the men who fought under the confederacy during the Civil War, risking their lives for each state to be able to govern itself.

And these are the veterans hundreds of people, which included many of their descendants, honored Saturday afternoon.

"Well over a million Americans were casualties of that conflict. The South was totally destroyed in the process. Just as the ideals and virtues, families and fortunes were laid upon the altar of independence, once again in 1861, we must continue to offer ourselves in the perpetuation of the memory of our beloved Confederate ancestors," said Mississippi Sons of Confederate Veterans Ed Fuchess.