“Our country is unique in the way we respect and honor the young men and women who volunteer for military service. We show our gratitude and respect for past and present service and I’m proud of that,” says David Zucker, the Santa Clarita Valley Memorial Day Committee President.
Zucker, who retired from military service in 1988 after 20 years in the Army, is looking forward to this year’s Memorial Day celebration that he and his committee have been planning for Monday, May 28th at the Eternal Valley Memorial Park and Mortuary.
“The ceremony will start at 10 a.m. when we expect two aerial flyovers by WWII vintage aircraft. We’ll also have a special guest speaker, the Junior ROTC color guard, the drill team detachment, the Santa Clarita Concert Band, two VFW posts and the Vietnam Veterans of America,” said Zucker.
Last year more than one thousand people attended.
Zucker is calling for donations to help fund a light replacement system for the illumination of the United States flag at the site. The flag is currently lit by solar light that doesn’t meet the government requirement standards for illumination of a United States flag. Anyone with the technical expertise to give advice about the design of a system or those who would like to donate funds to defer the cost should contact Zucker at 661-294-7985.
After the Memorial Day tribute, those who’d like to climb the hill to where the flag and the Veterans Memorial are located can listen to volunteers read the names of more than 700 veterans whose names are inscribed on the memorial.
If you are able to attend, expect an overwhelming display of patriotism at the service as well as on the grounds where area boy and girl scouts will have placed 5000 American flags on the graves of those buried at the site.
Eternal Valley Memorial Park and Mortuary is located at 23287 Sierra Highway, Santa Clarita.