Observing Memorial Day
Flags and a plane were flying high as fallen soldiers were remembered in Sebastopol
On a beautiful but windy Memorial Day, VFW Gold Ridge Post 3919 held a moving ceremony at Sebastopol Memorial Lawn. The main road into the cemetery was lined with dozens of large American flags, all fluttering in the wind, while overhead a P-51 plane came in north to south and circled back for one more flyover. The crowd of maybe 50 who were gathered for the ceremony anticipated the arrival of the plane, which came as a burst of sound but was gone almost too quickly to see.
David Kimble, commanding officer of VFW 3919, presided over the ceremony, which he said paid “tribute to those who never made it home.”
The ceremony also honored the widows and family members of fallen soldiers. Mary Ellen Boyd was introduced. She lost her husband Ted James Rule in Vietnam in 1968 when he was serving as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Ranger Corps. He was just 25 and had only been there for less than a month. “He lost everything protecting his men in battle,” she said. “He was a wonderful young man. I loved him. His family loved him. I’m proud to share his sacrifice with all Americans.” Post 3919 presented Mrs. Boyd with a plaque.
Throughout the ceremony, the Sebastopol Community Band played patriotic songs, led by conductor Nicholas Xenelis, who had to work to keep his sheet music from blowing away. The music was surely a highlight of the program.
After the 20-minute ceremony ended, the group headed over to the Veteran’s Building/Center for the Arts for lunch.
Flags Along City Streets
Members of Scout Troop #27 were out early placing flags along the town’s main thoroughfares this morning. The flag holes fill up with debris over the year, so one scout goes ahead of everyone, digging or drilling the debris out of the holes.
I love the flags and I think they have extended the flags down more streets. Dang, I wished I had looked for it when I heard what sounded like a WW II era aircraft. P-51's are real beauties.
I love to see the flags lining our streets on these holidays. In spite of all, just like other little towns all across the country, for better or worse, we are an American town, for sure.