Healdsburg heroes remembered with gratitude, wreaths, poem, rifle salute

As about 150 people watched, two wreaths of red crepe paper poppies were laid on the  1933 World War II memorial marker and cannon at Monday.

"I put one there on behalf of the ," said John Hazlett, a member and retired U.S. Air Force serviceman.

Hazlett's wreath was joined by a wreath placed by Ann Hertel on behalf of the American Legion Sotoyome Post #111 auxiliary during Monday's Memorial Day ceremonies put on by the Healdsburg military veterans post.

"I have a lot of great feeling for all that's been done [by the military] and all that's been given," Hazlett said in explaining his thoughts on the occasion.

Also included in the ceremony were an address by post Honors Team Commander and Sergeant-at-Arms George Sager, a blessing by Pastor and Post Chaplain Dave Richey, a color guard by ,  a rifle salute by American Legion post Honors Team members and a mournful taps played by a trumpet on the hillside overlooking the graves.

"Today, my thoughts are always on the people I knew who fell in combat," Sager said before the ceremonies. "I think of my best friend, Tom Phillips -- I went to boot camp with him and we were in Vietnam at the same time, in different units."

Phillips, a Healdsburg resident, died from burns in an explosion on Sept. 13,  1968, Sager said.

During the ceremony, Sager read the names of Phillips and several dozen other Healdsburg military servicemen and women who have died over the years.  He followed that with the reading of a poem, "In Soft Fields of Red, White and Blue," by Nancy Berry.

"It's good to see such a turnout," said former post Commander Bill Stiles, a World War II U.S. Navy veteran. "There's nothing like a small town."

and wife Erika McGuire -- who live in Healdsburg -- were among those attending the event, which was later repeated at cemeteries in Geyserville and Windsor.

Healdsburg's ceremony participants got a motorcycle escort to the other towns by members of Sons of Legion, a group of area men and women with parents or other relatives who were military veterans.

"My father was in the Navy in World War II," said SAL member Tony Grado of Santa Rosa. "This is just another way of serving."

SAL member Tom  Grimes of Healdsburg said his step-grandfather was a World War I veteran.

"I spent 22 years in the Navy," Grimes said.

John Grace, cubmaster for Healdsburg Cub Scout Pack 21, said his pack also planted 600 flags Sunday in Healdsburg, helped with the and plantings and runs regular food drives.

"I try to reinforce with our pack that community service is an important part of our lives," Grace said.  "And with today, I tell them that by all the sacrifices the military gave to us, we get to enjoy the fun things and freedom that we have."

Melanie Taylor of Cloverdale, a Healdsburg Post #111 auxiliary member and National Auxiliary Americanism Chair, said the red crepe paper poppies were hand-made by residents at the Veterans Home in Yountville. In addition to the two Healdsburg wreaths, two wreaths will also be laid on markers at each of the two subsequent ceremonies in Geyserville and Windsor.

"They earn 10 cents for each poppy," Taylor said. "If they make 1,000 poppies, they earn $100." Yountville's Veterans Home produces 350,000 poppies annually, one of the highest production numbers in the state.