News Net file photo, Veteran Art Contreras, unknown, Ken Anhalt, unknown, click to enlarge
Posted 5/23/14 – The Harry L. Embree VFW Post 3208 will hold its annual Memorial Day Service at Pioneer Cemetery on Monday morning. The event officially starts at 11am, but because a large crowd is expected, those looking to find a seat for the service are encouraged to arrive early. Crosses and flags are already up at Pioneer Cemetery on all of the Veterans grave sites, a week in advance of the Memorial Service this year, for the honor and benefit of affected family members who have Veteran loved ones buried there.
Keynote speaker will again be former Mayor MaryAnn MacGillivray, who also was the speaker in 2011 and 2012. Congresswoman Judy Chu is expected to be at the ceremony for a short time and will speak. Those who arrive early and stay late will enjoy the patriotic music playing before and after the ceremony, including popular music from the WW II era. A complementary sandwich lunch will be served to attendees immediately following the ceremony. Post Commander Dave Loera will be officiating. Msgr. Richard Krekelberg of St. Rita Parish will give the invocation, cantor Peter Vecchio and bugler Paul Puccinelli will be other participants as well as members of VFW Post 3208.
If you’ve attended the Post 3208 VFW services in the past (or pretty much any memorial service involving a VFW post), you may recall the memorial poppy being distributed. For a little back story on this traditional part of VFW services, please click here.