Officials from a cemetery in San Juan are apologizing after being closed for hours on Memorial Day—leaving some families without the opportunity to memorialize their loved ones.

Between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., the gates to a San Juan cemetery were closed.

Jose Garza, who drove more than 160 miles with his family from Corpus Christi to pay his respects, expressed his frustration.

“In reality, we have to go back because we work in the refineries,” Garza said.
It does hurt because we only have this day just this day to come.”

Cemetery board member Juan Maldonado issued an apology for opening the cemetery six hours late. He says the mistake came from a scheduling issue with his staff.

“I pray to God that people forgive us for... because I know that a day like this it has to be one that the cemeteries are open for everybody all day,” said San Juan Board of Director Juan Maldonado. “So, I apologize for that my staff made a mistake and I got it corrected and I apologize. Please forgive us.”

Maldonado said the cemetery closed an hour later than usual to make up for the delay during the day.