Friends and family of veterans were invited to the Bronx Zoo Saturday to celebrate the holidays.

The zoo holds the event as a way to say thank you to veterans and their families.

Children at the celebration were given gifts.

Leanna Diaz’s cousin is a Marine stationed in California and she says his service is the present she holds most dear.

“We'll miss him, but when he comes over, we can love him and remember that he served for other people,” Diaz says.