OBSERVANCES IN MENDOCINO COUNTY
This Monday, May 30, is the Memorial Day observance across America. It is a national holiday that, for many, signals the start of summer. Others simply view it as a three-day weekend and a time for barbecues, missing the importance of the day.
Originally called Decoration Day, what is now “Memorial Day” was started at the close of the Civil War. With more than 500,000 dead from that devastating national conflict, several states in the South began placing flowers on the graves of the slain soldiers; regardless of the side for which they had fought.
It gained wider recognition after World War I where more than 100,000 American soldiers gave their lives in the defense of freedom. It was as recent as 1971 that Memorial Day became an official national holiday on the last Monday in May. Every Memorial Day, the U.S. President lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and 280,000 flags are placed at the headstones in Arlington National Cemetery. Where Veteran's Day honors those who have worn the uniform and served in our Armed Forces, Memorial Day honors those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedoms.
Local celebrations
Ukiah Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1900, in conjunction with Lewis White Post 76, will hold its annual commemoration service of all who have died in military service in the US, Mon., May 30, at noon at Russian River Cemetery, 940 Low Gap Rd., Ukiah.
This cemetery is a sacred, peaceful place amid giant redwood, cedar & hardwood trees, home for about 15,000plus. Roaming families of deer abound. It's old, by California standards, with the earliest graves moved here in 1875 from other places.
Boonville's Memorial Day observance is 11 a.m. Sunday, May 29, at Evergreen Cemetery in Boonville, sponsored by American Legion Post 385.
Potter Valley Memorial day service is at Potter Valley Cemetery on East side Rd. at 9 a.m. American Legion Lewis White Post 76 — Potter Valley spearheads this celebration; former Post 76 Commander Ralph Paulin will lead the ceremony, and Potter Valley Scout Troup 72 will assist. Kate Magruder and her daughter, Grace Farmer, are also performing part of ceremony (Kate doing a reading and Grace singing).
Dr. Don Fugate, Pastor, Foxworthy Baptist Church, San Jose, wrote: “When the war on terror began after 9/11, the rallying cry was, `Remember and Never Forget.' It's important to remember. Elie Wiesel writes, “'Without memory, there is no culture. Without memory there would be no civilization, no future.' And so, I pray that you will take time this Monday, May 30 to remember the sacrifice of so many throughout the years who gave their `last measure of devotion' to protect the freedoms we enjoy.”