Edith King got there early. She wanted a good seat in the shade.
Since moving to Sonoma in 1942, King has attended every local Memorial Day event she can remember. Giving herself enough time to find room for her rolling walker, she settled in among a group of up to 1,000 families attending the 53rd Annual Sonoma Valley Joint Memorial Day Observance at Sonoma Veterans Memorial Park.
“I’m here because I enjoy being with people and the program. Everyone is here because these fellas put their lives on the line for us,” she said, pulling her coat up around her neck.
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The memorial, which began under cloudy skies, developed into a warm gathering of citizens and soldiers, diplomats and dignitaries, all focusing their words and thoughts on the supreme sacrifice of over a million U.S. servicemen and women since the founding of the country. The Mayor of Sonoma, Laurie Gallian spoke and many members of the City Council were in attendance.
Memorial Day brings out family stories. Walking along the aisles you could hear low voices…
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“My father was helicopter pilot in Vietnam….”
“Her granddad was part of the Normandy invasion…”
"Our daughter is on her second tour in Iraq…”
Master of Ceremonies Carl “Chip” Allen introduced Father John S. Crews of Hanna Center for Boys, who gave the invocation. Later in the program, Crews, a retired U.S. Navy Captain and chaplain, proudly read a list of 22 former Hanna students now serving in the armed forces.
Jennifer Pease of Sonoma sat with two large red, white and blue bouquets and her one-month-old daughter Shea Lynn sleeping soundly in a body wrap. She fought back tears thinking of placing one on a family friends tomb and on her grandmother’s. From where she sat she could see the cemetery she visits regularly whenever she feels like reconnecting with her family’s powerful “rock” and stabilizing force.
“My grandmother, Muriel Poore, was a nurse in World War II and even though she died when I was 13, we still have a powerful dialog,” she said. “She helped raise us. She didn’t talk much about her war experiences but she is our role model because after the war she spent her whole life helping others.”
A special highlight of the event was a speech by the San Francisco-based French Consul General Romain Serman who spoke about the loyalty between France and America. He explained that our countries are truly linked by the father-son mentoring relationship between George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette, which has carried forward generation after generation.
“I grew up listening to my grandparents talk about the Americans – the Devil Dogs – coming in 1917 to push back the German Army. My parents told me how the Americans returned to France as saviors during World War II,” said Serman.
“The preservation of our common values saved France from slavery and Europe from hell.”
He said that France could never forget what is owed to the United States. Indeed, the French government delivered ten Legion of Merit medals for World War II veterans attending the event.
“Let me tell you this. France will never forget. We won’t forget the soldiers, the shipyard workers, or the families who lost loved ones. In every town there is a General Patton Avenue or a square dedicated to America, there’s a General Eisenhower Boulevard. The friendship sealed by Lafayette and Washington at Yorktown means you can count on France.”
The youthful and handsome diplomat then closed with a heartfelt “Viva la France!” receiving a standing ovation.
Gary Mangini, Commander of the Sonoma American Legion Jack London Post 489 was one of the event organizers. He was quick to credit so many other groups that volunteered their time including the 2011 Planning Committee, The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Wine Country Marines, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley, and the City of Sonoma and Native Sons.
“Once you come to Sonoma’s Memorial Day Observance, you’ll never go anywhere else. We really do it right,” said Mangini, a Vietnam and Persian Gulf War veteran.
Mariel Owens from the Daughters of the American Revolution placed wreaths on the star memorial. Gary Magnani and Dan Parker, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Bear Flag Post 1943 presented gold and blue star banners. Trooper’s Shadow was led through in saddle with cavalry boots sitting in the stirrups backwards; a rider less horse honor. Vocalist Max Simonet sang “La Marseillaise and Shannon Howlett sang “Star Spangled Banner.”
The morning included several jet flyovers followed by vintage bi-planes in the missing man formation. Small, but touching moments included Boy Scouts handing out water and helping elders to find seats and Girl Scouts, Brownies and Blue Birds handing out programs. A white dove release coincided with a circular sun rainbow.
The memorial observance was followed by an all-American picnic at the Veterans Building.
