Davis, 43, was shot by an Iraqi soldier Nov. 25, while on a humanitarian mission.
One of 17 siblings, he had five children.
"He was like the humanitarian of the family, always liked to keep peace," older sister Barbara Flowers said. "He was always pleasant."
Davis served in both Gulf wars and in Afghanistan, and was planning to retire from the Army after his last tour. His retirement plan, which involved being a greeter at Wal-Mart and opening a hot-dog stand outside his daughter's dormitory, still brought smiles to the faces of his wife, 10-year-old son Marc and daughter Diana, 18.
"He was ready," Anna Davis said of his plans for life after the military.
A crowd of about 1,200 attended yesterday's ceremony, many of them veterans who stood when their respective service songs were played. But others present simply came to pay homage to them and those currently in the military.
"Just thinking of those people in Iraq and Afghanistan, I just ... wanted to remember them and show support," said Laura Chandler, who felt compelled to come after hearing about the event on the news yesterday morning. Chandler, who lives in Cockeysville, was wearing a shirt that read "God Bless America."
She was moved by the ceremony, she said. "It just makes me think of the world we live in today, and how our grandfathers fought for us so we didn't have to."
Tim Elliott, who lives across from Memorial Gardens, was among a curious bunch of people who gathered to examine a Black Hawk helicopter stationed at the cemetery entrance. Although he and neighbor Janis Hofsass didn't make it to the ceremony this year, coming to the cemetery for Memorial Day is a regular event for them - and a chance to teach their children to honor those who have fought for them, they said.
"What's Memorial Day?" Elliott asked his daughter, Catherine.
"It's when we remember all the soldiers," the 7-year-old replied.
He smiled. "It's not a three-day vacation."
