Memorial Day Celebrations at Sylvan Cemetery

Wow, there were hundreds of residents at the ceremonies this morning at Sylvan Cemetery Citrus Heights, California. Thank you to all that attended. The ceremony this morning was outstanding. It started at 10:30am outside pavilion. Chairs set up, large and small (history) American flags everywhere, what a sight to see!!

The Harmony Express singers were excellent as usual ....... ( I tried to video them so you could enjoy them too but I hit the wrong button on my phone and no video except for clapping. I'll try to better next time)

You are looking at only a fraction of the residents that attended.......  about the same amount of people that were seated inside were standing outside too.....  great attendance this morning.

The entire City of Citrus Heights Council members  (Mayor Jeff Slowey, Vice Mayor Steve Miller, Council Member Jeannie Bruins, Council Member Jayna Karpinski-Costa and  Mel Turner, our newest Council Member), Citrus Heights Police Chief Christopher Boyd plus Sacramento County Board of Supervisors  Roberta MacGlashan

Sacramento County Board of Supervisors - District 4.  Roberta MacGlashan

George Marks/ WWII veteran read a poem from 1943 and it was a tear-jerker. I know George from Root Cellar - Sacramento Genealogical Society . He has lots and lots of family stories.

If you recall, Jim Monteton, American Legion member & President of Neighborhood Assoc. 7&8 in Citrus Heights and is an active resident in Citrus Heights,  was instrumental in getting Theodore Collins Fitch a Civil War Veteran's (died Sept 2, 1901) head stone placed in Sylvan Cemetery in 2011. If you missed that story check the November 28, 2011 post. Jim is working on some others in the same cemetery that do not have head stones. Lots and Lots of paperwork for each headstone.

Unknown Boy Scout from Troop 646........ I was too late to get the pictures of our local Troop 228 that helped with the presenting of the flags at the beginning of the ceremonies. Very impressive. Golden Empire Council Sacramento Boy Scouts

A dear friend, Tonya Wagner, President of Neighborhood #1 of Citrus Heights, President of REACH, is very involved with the Gold Star Wives and Blue Star Families ........  neither is an organization you would want to join or see grow. Tonya's is a member of the Gold Star Wives, her husband has been MIA for almost 50 years.

This is the newest area for Veterans in the Sylvan Cemetery..............

Others at the ceremonies...............  very patriotic!!

 Soldiers through the ages............... 

American Legion

Representatives of the Sons of the American Revolution- Sacramento Chapter   and                        The Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War 

 Citrus Heights Police Department  June 26, 2006, at 8 a.m., CHPD "went live"                                We love our Police Department

Chief Master Sergeant in United States Air Force 

Rough Riders in the Spanish American War

From the Spanish American War Rough Riders, to Civil War soldiers, 

to our modern day soldiers in the Navy and Army.

Impressive!!

 The support system, the American Legion Auxiliary ladies selling American flag pins, small American flags and other items.

Did you fly your American Flag today? IF not, why not? Today is one of the few official holidays to show your love of country and your support for our Veteran's from the past and the present.

Today coming back from the cemetery, we drove back down our street (Lee Drive) and there were only 4 American flags flying out of a couple dozen homes.

What do you think Memorial Day is all about?

Remembering our Veteran's? or BBQ'ing?  or baseball games?