UPDATE: Healdsburg Remembers the Fallen

NOTE: This story was updated at 7:45 p.m. on Monday, May 28, 2012.

Bright sun framed members of the American Legion, Sotoyome Post 111, as they gathered Monday in front of the American Legion marker “Dedicated in Memory of World War Veterans 1933.”

The Boy Scouts Color Guard attended with flags at the at Healdsburg's Oak Mound Cemetery.

Dave Richey, Commander of American Legion Post 111, gave an eloquent opening message on “deepening our reverence of the dead.” He was followed with a prayer by Chaplain Bill Styles.

Gary Greenough, President of the American Legion Riders (MET, Motor Escort Transport), a Vietnam Navy Veteran, gave a moving talk on “honoring the fallen.” (text is reprinted below)

Tom Grimes, incoming Commander, and Terry Hartel, accompanied by George Sager, Honor Guard Commander, placed wreaths on the World War Veterans marker.

Sager ordered the 21-gun salute and taps were then performed by Bob Taylor.

In attendance were former Captain Clifford Stewart, a three-war Navy veteran, Mike and Gino Bellagio, along with other dignitaries.

The Bellagio brothers were not only taking in the service but were visiting their brother, Aldo, who was lost in the Red Sea on a plane when 52 soldiers perished.

When the plane was finally found, the bodies were temporarily buried in Iran. Two years later, when the body was exhumed and identified they brought him home to Healdsburg and reburied him at Oak Mound Cemetery in 1946.

After the Healdsburg event, Post 111 went to Geyserville’s Olive Hill Cemetery for an 11 a.m. ceremony.

Through the dappled light of majestic oaks, locals honored the fallen with great pride in the hearts for the fallen and their local cemetery.

The day before, many community members had helped sweep, pull weeds, rake, weed-wack and generally help clean the cemetery. The community members call themselves the “Grim Sweepers”.

The American Legion repeated the ceremony performed in Healdsburg at Olive Hill Cemetery and then moved on to Windsor to the Shiloh National Cemetery where at noon they again held a tribute for our fallen veterans.

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Here is the text of the speech given in Healdsburg by Gary Greenough on Monday, May 28, 2012, at Oak Mound Cemetery:

Wars seem to be a part and parcel of our nation's heritage. Be we never fight a war in a place like Sonoma County. The places we go to are usually too hot, too cold, too wet or too dry. If it is not the jungles of South East Asia, it is the sands of Iraq or Afghanistan, or the places where dozens of other conflicts have occurred in our history.

Speaking to that history, we see the graves around us, adorned with American Flags, representing those who gave their last full measure to our country. We can never repay them, but we CAN honor them. THAT is why we are here today.

Memorial Day was originally called "Decoration Day", and was started by ladies in the south, decorating the graves of Confederate soldiers. The idea caught on, and the Union adopted the idea, and the fourth Monday of May was set aside to decorate the graves, and give honors to those who are buried there, who served our country with honor and distinction. Veterans Day, by contrast, celebrates the living veterans, and they are so honored for their service.

It is fitting at this time to reflect on the recent conflicts, as well as those of years long gone. World War II veterans are departing our ranks at a rate of 3,000 per day across our nation. The National Cemeteries are filling up at a great rate, and new national cemeteries are being opened to accommodate the great numbers now filling them.

There are also comparison of modern warfare to those in the past. An example is that in ten years, the Iraq War saw the numbers of Fallen Warriors at 4,500. While tragic, one must remember that the casualties for the Vietnam War, for the same period of time, number 58,282, and whose names are emblazoned on the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C.

Monuments are created and dedicated to those who have fallen in the service to our country. Although incomplete, the War Memorial at Santa Rosa City Hall reflects the blood and treasure lost from Sonoma County from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. And as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow, there will be others. For human being do not enter in conflict without serious issues driving the cause. This is a tragic characteristic of our species, neither inevitable, nor desirable. And this happens under EVERY administration.

From Sonoma County, we lost 56 during Vietnam, from all cities and towns in the county. With the closing of the current conflicts on this Memorial Day, may we remember those 12 from Sonoma County who we honor for their service, and who gave all in the sands of Iraq and Afghanistan, or returned home after surviving combat to a tragic end.

Non-veterans, please place your hand over your heart... service members, Legion members, veterans of all branches, come to attention  please  and 'hand salute'...

Sonoma County's Honored Dead:

Patrick O'Day, Santa Rosa 23 March, 2003

Miichael Ottolini, Sebastopol, 10 November 2004

Timothy Shea, Sonoma, 25 August 2006

Caesar Viglienzone, Santa Rosa, 1 February 2006

Joshua Kynock, Santa Rosa, 1 October 2006

Jesse Williams, Santa Rosa, 8 April 2007

Mario Deleon, Petaluma, 16 April 2007

Anthony Schober, Rohnert Park, 12 May 2007

Christopher Gathercole, Santa Rosa, 26 May 2008

Ryan Connolly, Santa Rosa, 23 June 2008

Brian Watson, Petaluma, Non combat returnee, 16 March 2009

Victor Cervantes, Santa Rosa, non combat returnee, 19 March 2011

May we never forget them, this Memorial Day, or ever.

by Gary Greenough, American Legion Post 111, Healdsburg

Memorial Day 2012