See Memorial Day ceremony honoring military heroes at Sacramento veteran’s cemetery
Sacramento Bee staff
The Sacramento Valley National Cemetery held its Memorial Day ceremony Saturday, honoring the men and women who lost their lives defending the nation with speeches, music, a rifle salute and taps.
“It’s really nice to that the community is still wanting to be involved, and that their patriotism hasn’t changed a bit even with COVID,” said cemetery director William Pickard about attendance at the event after several years without ceremonies because of the pandemic.
The cemetery, located 3 miles south of Dixon, is open daily from sunrise to sunset. It opened in 2006 as California’s seventh national cemetery. Burial is open to all members of the armed services who have met minimum active duty service requirements and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
Nel Sweet-Davis, left, and other members of the Service Veterans of Northern California Volunteer Honor Guard perform a rifle salute during the Memorial Day ceremony at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon on Saturday. Lezlie Sterling lsterling@sacbee.com
Veterans of Foreign Wars state bugler Baldwin Wong, with the Service Veterans of Northern California, plays taps following a wreath presentation during a Memorial Day ceremony at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon on Saturday. Lezlie Sterling lsterling@sacbee.com
Members of the American Legion Yolo Post 77, John Flores, left, Leslie Murillo and Vince Olvera, right, perform the Retiring of Colors during the Memorial Day ceremony at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon on Saturday. Lezlie Sterling lsterling@sacbee.com
Vietnam Veteran Stan Bollinger, 77, of Roseville, salutes the flag as attendees stand for the National Anthem during a Memorial Day ceremony at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon on Saturday. Lezlie Sterling lsterling@sacbee.com
Derrick Garcia, 6, of Winters, uses his might to place a lawn flag as his family, including brother Anthony, 12, right, put flags in front of headstones at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon as part of the Memorial Day ceremony Saturday. The ceremony returned to in-person after a two-year COVID-19 hiatus. Lezlie Sterling lsterling@sacbee.com
