Lining up to pay respect
Santa Clarita Valley community honors fallen veterans during Memorial Day event at Eternal Valley
As the nation remembered those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the United States, remembrance was on the minds of residents throughout the Santa Clarita Valley, as well for Memorial Day.
Eternal Valley Memorial Park holds a ceremony to remember the fallen each year, starting with a ritual that starts two days earlier with the placing of a U.S. flag on each of the more than 7,000 tombstones that belong to men and women who served in the armed forces.
This year, the theme, “The Great War,” was an homage to the end of World War I, said Sharon Ventrice, vice president of the Santa Clarita Valley Veterans Memorial Inc., which took place November 11, 1918. The group tries to select themes with historically significant ties, she added.
“This year, of course was the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, well, we call it World War I, but it was ‘The Great War’—‘the War to End All Wars,’” she added, referring to historical accounts.
In fact, the veterans group displayed direct ties to the war at the memorial park, including a picture of servicemen from World War I that showed the grandfather and family members of Fred Gruchalla, current treasurer of the local veterans group.
Santa Clarita Mayor Laurene Weste was on hand with her husband, James McCarthy, dressed in attire from the era.
Parents and children, many wearing scout uniforms or recognizing other community groups, came together to remember, and also teach younger generations.
“It’s probably one of the highlight events that I get to attend each year, and to have the honor of being the master of ceremonies makes it that much more patriotic and heartwarming to me,” said Fred Arnold, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force Reserves, after the ceremony. “To look into the crowd and to see all the Santa Claritans who are there to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice is breathtaking. Patriotism is alive and well in Santa Clarita and in America.”