Memorial Day is not just for dusting off the barbecue and basking in the first rays of summer, it’s also an important time for honoring the heroes who laid down their lives so Americans could enjoy this holiday, and every day, in freedom.
And that is what the San Fernando Valley Detachment 1277 of the Marine Corps League’s 17th annual Memorial Day Flag Placement Ceremony was all about.
The moving event took place on Sunday morning at the San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, where attendees honored the memory of fallen veterans by placing flags on their final resting places.
State Sen. Caroline Menjivar, a United States Marine Corps veteran, was the guest of honor and keynote speaker at the event.
Earlier in the week she led the Memorial Day commemoration ceremony on the state Senate floor in Sacramento and read a list of California service members who have lost their lives since January.
“I want to make sure as we enter into our long holiday, that we really remember that it’s not just a transition into the summer, but a time to really reflect on those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms,” she said to her state Senate colleagues.
Volunteers who placed flags at veterans’ graves included Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts in the city of San Fernando, California Cadet Corps 205th Battalion from Pacoima Middle School, and SkillUSA California Van Nuys High School Chapter.
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