War dead honored on Memorial Day 70 years ago

Memorial Day is a time to remember all U.S. men and women killed or missing in action in war.

Here is how Memorial Day was observed in San Diego 70 years ago.

From The San Diego Union, Saturday, May 31, 1952:

CITY HALTS BUSY TEMPO AS WAR DEAD HONORED SHIPS, STATIONS, PLANTS SUSPEND WORK FOR TRIBUTES TO SACRIFICES IN BATTLE

By Joe Brooks

The throbbing tempo of activities at San Diego’s military and naval bases, business houses and government buildings was stilled yesterday as the city halted its defense efforts for the hot and cold wars of the present to honor the memory of its dead in other wars.

Ships and shore stations suspended preparations and training for the Korean hot war for a day in honor of fallen buddies. Aircraft plants were also strangely silent as thousands of workers took a respite from their chores of making warplanes America hopes it will never have to use in another all-out war.

TRIBUTES OFFERED

Formal tribute was paid to those who sacrificed their lives in defense of their country and its ideals at many memorial services in the area. Speakers stressed the ideals of liberty, tolerance and human dignity for which they fought and died and urged living Americans to dedicate their lives to carrying high these ideals.

Many persons went singly or in pairs to Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery and other cemeteries in the area where dear ones who fell in combat are buried. They brought flowers of remembrance on this Memorial Day and uttered their own silent prayers.

ONLY ONE PARADE

There was only one parade, in Pacific Beach. It moved along flag-bedecked Garnet St. from Bayard St. to the Brown Military Academy grounds, where a memorial service and flag dedication was held by Legion Post 552.

Marching in the parade were Marines from the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Sea School in their colorful dress blues, the Brown Military Academy Band and cadets in snappy West Point uniforms, majorettes from San Diego Junior College and La Jolla High School, the Dennis Williams Legion Post 310 Band in black and gold Spanish costumes and Pacific Beach Sciots, Eagles, Sea Scouts, Boy Scouts and Cub Packs.

Dist. Atty. Don Keller expressed the theme of the speeches at most memorial services in the area at the flag dedication on the academy campus. “As we dedicate these flags to the memory of the men and women who died for their country, let us rededicate our personal lives to the mental, physical and spiritual battle to preserve our American institutions,” he said.

Flowers were placed on soldiers’ graves at this and other services in remembrance of the fallen heroes and the sacrifice they made. Taps were played, and volleys were fired by firing squads.

The historic General Order No. 11 of the Grand Army of the Republic issued in 1868 by Gen. Logan, which originated Memorial Day, was read at most services, along with the immortal Gettysburg Address of President Lincoln.

Navy war dead were honored with floral tributes dropped into the ocean off Point Loma from the destroyer McKean. Representatives of Branch 9, Fleet Reserve Association, and 17 other organizations placed wreaths in the water, while a military salute was fired and taps were sounded.

Memorial Day services were held at Brown Military Academy, Pacific Beach; Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery; Greenwood Memorial Park; La Vista Memorial Park, National City; Chula Vista Bowl; mount Hope Cemetery and Holy Cross mausoleum.