The sun came out Monday morning while Joe Gonzalez recited the
names of the 77 service members buried around him.
photo gallery.
The sun came out Monday morning while Joe Gonzalez recited the names of the 77 service members buried around him.
As commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ 12th District in California, Gonzalez was one of many veterans to participate in the Memorial Day Ceremony at Gavilan Hills Cemetery on First Street. About 150 people showed up to hear him, Mayor Al Pinheiro, Father Dan Derry of the Saint Mary Parish and Jesse Sanchez, the local VFW commander and master of ceremonies.
Jesse Sanchez’s father, Frank Sanchez, was one of nine veterans to march in the color and honor guard Monday morning and was also this year’s Grand Marshall. He is always, however, one of seven brothers who have served their country, and the emotional bond between comrade and family member became apparent as Jesse Sanchez shakily introduced his father to the crowd of families, veterans, boy scouts and police officers.
“Ladies and gentleman,” Jesse Sanchez said between sniffles, “My comrade, my father, Frank Sanchez.” The crowd applauded as Frank Sanchez walked toward the small wooden stage, where father and son saluted one another.
“Let’s not take our rights for granted,” Frank Sanchez told the crowd, peering above the folded speech he read from. “The many American flags around remind us that they won’t enjoy the fruits of their labor.”
Mayor Pinheiro touched on the same theme. On the 140th anniversary of Memorial Day, he reminded onlookers that there would be no freedom of press, speech or assembly had millions of Americans not made the ultimate sacrifice.
“We certainly can thank the armed forces for the freedoms we enjoy today,” said Pinheiro. The well-kept grave of U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jeramy Ailes lay in the shade a couple hundred yards from Pinheiro, and he nodded toward the plot during his speech to acknowledge the soldier who died Nov. 15, 2004, at the age of 22, serving in Iraq.
Before and after the ceremony, Boy Scouts combed the graveyard and circled obelisks, twirling miniature flags and asking their parents questions about the numbers and names engraved on the many tomb stones.
Many more are sure to come, but Jesse Sanchez told the crowd, “As long as two comrades survive, so will the VFW.”
He ended the ceremony and left the crowd with these words: “Your freedom, their lives.”
