Pleasanton Remembers: Memorial Day 2015

The best part about today's Memorial Day Service? It was obvious that everyone who attended sincerely wanted to be there. They came in walkers, strollers and wheel chairs.  They listened to every word spoken and every note of music played. Everyone was at attention so to speak...it was great!

There were bagpipes, the community band, a Color Guard, a 21 gun salute, the Gettysburg Address and Army Commanders taking part. We recited the Pledge of Allegiance and sang America the Beautiful and the National Anthem. We learned new information about the holiday itself and about Tri Valley servicemen who had died in Vietnam and Afghanistan.

Scout Troop 998 put up flags at the Senior Center and at the grave sites at our local cemeteries

Placing of the Wreath was done by Sea Cadet Jacob Wight, RADM C.W. Parks Battalion and Donna Willy
who played Amazing Grace on the bagpipe

Spenser Aquilina, Eagle Scout Troop 998 reading the Gettysburg Address

My favorite words of the day...

"It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us...that from these honored dead, we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion.

We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom."

(President Abraham Lincoln, November 19, 1863)

"The 30th day of May 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country" 

(from General John A. Logan's Memorial Day Order May 5, 1868)