Memorial Day Ceremony to Salute U.S. Air Force
Memorial Day Closings
Volunteers sought to help with preparations When: Monday May 25, 10 a.m.
Where: Loma Vista Memorial Park, 701 E. Bastanchury Road, east of Harbor Boulevard
How much: Free to the public, the program is sponsored by the nonprofit American Veterans Memorial Association and the City of Fullerton.
The U.S. Air Force will be the focus of a special salute Monday, May 25, at the 71st Annual Fullerton Memorial Day Observance. Special guest speaker will be Brig. Gen. Eric W.Crabtree, commander of the Fourth Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command at March Air Reserve Base.
Crabtree will arrive at the ceremony aboard an Orange County Sheriff’s Department Helicopter. Once the helicopter lands, he will be escorted to the podium by JROTC cadets from Fullerton and Troy high schools.
The oldest continuous Memorial Day ceremony in North Orange County, Fullerton's program began in 1938 when C. Stanley Chapman, son of the city's first mayor, began the tradition of placing a small white cross and an American flag at the grave of each veteran at Loma Vista.
This year, community volunteers will place a cross and flag on more than 3,600 veterans’ graves throughout the cemetery.
Sharing the Memorial Day podium with Crabtree will be former Fullerton Mayor and retired Navy submarine commander A.B. "Buck" Catlin, who will serve as master of ceremonies, along with Ed Paul of the American Veterans Memorial Association.
The Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) is the second-largest major command under the U.S. Air Force.The AFRC has three numbered Air Forces (NAF) under it - 4th, 10th, 22nd. Each NAF has command supervision for many Air Force Reserve bases, wings, and the groups under them, which are responsible for different missions. The 4th Air Force has command supervision of the Reserve's long-range airlift and air refueling units located throughout the continental United States, Hawaii and Guam.
Patriotic music will be sung by Dave Deno, creative director for radio station KKLA, and Kristen Romero, dispatcher for the Fullerton Police Department. Officers from the Fullerton Police Department will present the gun salute, and “Taps” and “Echo” will be played.
Members of the Golf Company Infantry, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines, will assist with the wreath-laying ceremony.
Also participating in the observance will be the Fullerton Firefighters' Association, the Fullerton Police Color Guard, the Southern California chapters of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Division associations, the U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II, Fullerton American Legion Post 142, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 11390, 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Fullerton American Legion Post 142 Commanders Club, Fullerton Emblem Club 469, Fullerton Ebell Club, Fullerton Saturday Morning Y’s Mens’ Club, and the Daughters of the American Revolution – Mojave Chapter, Also assisting with the program are the Rotary Club of Fullerton, Fullerton Elks Lodge 1993, Placentia Roundtable, Buena Park Emblem Club 340, Yorba Linda Women’s Club and Boy Scouts Troop 97.
Loma Vista Memorial Park is located at 701 E. Bastanchury Road, east of Harbor Boulevard.
Further information about the Memorial Day observance may be obtained by calling the Ed Paul at (714) 871-2412.
Persons requiring special accommodations to attend the ceremony are asked to call Loma Vista Memorial Park at (714) 525-1575 prior to May 25.
Volunteers sought to help with Memorial Day preparations
Volunteers are needed to place more than 3,600 crosses and an equal number of American flags at the graves of veterans at Loma Vista Memorial Park in Fullerton in preparation for the 71st Annual Fullerton Memorial Day Observance Monday, May 25.
Volunteers are needed at Loma Vista no earlier than 8 a.m. Saturday, May 23, to place a small cross and a flag at the grave of each veteran buried at the park.
Volunteers are also needed at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 26, to remove the crosses and flags and place them in storage.
It would be helpful if volunteers could bring wheelbarrows, wagons or carts with them to carry the crosses and flags around the cemetery.
Loma Vista Memorial Park is located at 701 E. Bastanchury Road, east of Harbor Boulevard.
The Memorial Day ceremony will include a special salute to the U.S. Air Force.Guest speaker will be Brig. Gen. Eric Crabtree, commander of the 4th Air Force, Air Force Reserve, at March Air Force Base, The program is free to the public, and will begin at 10 a.m.
Further information may be obtained by calling the City of Fullerton Public Information Office at (714) 738-6317.
The American Veterans Memorial Association is also seeking donations which would be used to purchase crosses and flags.Donations may be sent to the association at P.O. Box 3451, Fullerton, CA 92834-3451. |
