The day was cold with light grey clouds completely covering the sun. The brown dormant grass crunched under the feet of the citizens of District Thirteen as they stood outside the Justice Building. Their dark grey coats kept the wind away, but everyone shivered with a different kind of cold. President Coin was addressing them as well as the nation of Panem. She stood at the podium, her standard-issue grey coat over her black suit. Behind her stood a wall that was covered in a black cloth.
"We are gathered here to remember those who have given their lives to aid the rebellion." Coin said from the podium. Anastasia twisted the flower she had made out of some extra copper-wire and fabric in her hands. Mrs. Sultry put a gentle reassuring hand on her shoulder. Tears were in both her parents' eyes as they knew many of the soldiers who had died in the revolution. "Their ultimate sacrifice was in the name of hope. Hope for the future. Hope for a better Panem. Hope for peace once again." President Coin paused before reading the names of the fallen. "…Rebel Victor Mags Anderson… Commander Gerald Boggs…" Anastasia sniffled and looked over at John who had tears streaming down his face. His parents put their hands on his shoulders before he nodded his thanks. "…Medic Primrose Everdeen…" With each name, Anastasia's heart felt heavier. "Rebel Victor Finnick Odair… Rebel Victor Wiress Carpenter Tesla…" She looked over at Beetee who had let out a sob. Mr. Tesla put a hand on his shoulder and passed him a tissue. Anastasia felt her mother pull her close. She felt her mother's arms around her, and her head being cradled against her mother's body.
"We're here for you, little owl, it's ok, it's ok." Anastasia heard her mother whisper in her ear. Only then was she aware that she had began sobbing. There was a moment of silence after President Coin finished reading the names. The sounds of others in the crowd crying pierced the air before someone began playing the song Taps on a trumpet.
"Aim…Fire!" A platoon of seven soldiers stood to the right of the crowd to give the twenty-one gun salute to the fallen soldiers and rebel-victors. "Aim…Fire…" With every shot, Angela winced and wrapped her arms tighter around her sister and mother. "Aim…Fire…"
After the final shot, President Coin and an Army General took the curtain off the wall. The names of the fallen were etched into a slab of black granite that stood fourteen feet high. The slab was attached to the wall of the building. Two soldiers moved Coin's podium and she lay a flower next to the wall before standing off to the side.
Dr. Aurelius nodded as the President waved him forward. He escorted The Mockingjay to the wall. She was dressed in her Mockingjay uniform without the weaponry. They stopped by Primrose's name. Even in the multi-drug induced daze, The Mockingjay traced the letters of her sister's name etched in the stone before laying a small pink primrose next to Coin's flower. Dr. Aurelius escorted her to the other side of the wall where his colleagues would take her back down to the hospital.
The rest of the citizens followed suite and lined up to pay tribute to those on the wall. "Hi Sultry family." Dr. Aurelius said quietly as he stood behind Beetee to push his wheelchair.
"Hi, Dr. Aurelius." Anastasia said. "Thanks for coming."
"No problem." He said as the line began moving.
The Hawthornes were in line ahead of the Sultry family. Anastasia and Dr. Aurelius saw one of the younger boys trace Primrose's name before falling to his knees sobbing. "Rory," Soldier Hawthorne said gently as he knelt down beside his brother. "I got you, Rory." He helped his younger brother to his feet.
"There she is, honey." Mr. Sultry said pointing to a name in the stone. Wiress Carpenter Tesla. Anastasia reached out and slowly traced the letters of her biological mother's name. A larger weathered hand met hers and their grasp met over the letters. Through her tears, Anastasia locked her gaze with Beetee's before laying her flower on the ground. She saluted at Boggs' name before joining her family who was standing several feet from the wall. Her parents pulled her into a hug and they all stood together huddled together, tears mingling with each other. She saw Dr. Aurelius chatting with Beetee before he walked off to talk with other people. Beetee slowly steered his chair over to the Sultry family. "Would you like to come back with us?" Mr. Sultry asked.
"Sure. Thank you." Beetee said simply. "Thank you very much."
"Stacia can push you." Angela said.
"I think he's ok, Angie, honey." Mrs. Sultry said smiling at her youngest daughter.
"He looks tired, mama." Angela replied.
"I don't mind, Beetee." Anastasia said smiling. She led the way as her family went back underground to continue remembering their fallen in their own way.
A/N: If you cried at the end, don't worry because I cried when I wrote this. This is NOT the last chapter, so don't worry!
For readers outside the United States, this ceremony has elements of typical U.S. Military funerals, specifically the 21 gun salute. The wall they had on the Justice Building is similar to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC USA.