“Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.”

             ~ Anonymous

By Mary O’KEEFE

This Monday, May 27, the United States pays tribute to those men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. It began after the Civil War as a way for citizens to honor those soldiers who sacrificed their lives in service to their country. Decoration Day began in small towns in the north with tributes to the fallen soldiers that included decorating graves with flowers and flags. The southern towns recognized their fallen soldiers as well, but on a different day, until after World War I. Then throughout the U.S. the last Monday in May was chosen as Decoration Day, a day that was not significant to any battle. It was officially recognized by Congress as Memorial Day in 1971.

On Monday there will be several Memorial Day commemorations throughout Glendale and the Crescenta Valley.

Montrose: The Memorial Day ceremony will be held at the Vietnam War Memorial on Honolulu Avenue and Ocean View Boulevard. The brief ceremony will begin at 7:30 a.m. and will be attended by California State Assemblymember Laura Friedman and City of Glendale Mayor Ara Najarian. Both will address the audience.

La Crescenta: The American Legion Post 288 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1614 will be observing Memorial Day at Two Strike Park beginning at 8 a.m. The event will be led by Mike Baldwin, adjutant American Legion Post 288 and VFW Post 1614. He is a Vietnam veteran. The keynote speaker will be Lt. General Eugene (Gene) L. Tattini, USAF retired. He retired in July 2001 from the USAF as commander, Space and Missiles Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base. He retired after serving 36 years in the Air Force. Upon retirement he served as deputy director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, retiring from that position in 2013.

This year local veteran Roy Leo Chiarot will be honored. He served in the U.S. Navy from February 1964 to February 1970. He was a medical corpsman and served aboard the USS Grapple. Roy served in Vietnam from 1965 to 1967. He was a member of the American Legion Post 288, and died recently.

The CV High School JROTC, led by M/Sgt. Alvin Johnson, will present the colors. Cub Scout Pack 360 will conduct the presentation of flowers and Scout Kierin Ferris from Boy Scout Troop 288 will play “Taps.”

Glendale: There will be a remembrance at City Hall in Glendale, 613 E. Broadway, beginning at 9:30 a.m. The ceremony is sponsored by the Patriotism Committee of the Glendale Veterans Coalition.

After the City of Glendale event, American Legion Post 127 (located at 714 W. Wilson Ave.) will host a Veterans Barbecue. The food will be served by the Glendale Noon Kiwanis Grill Team. American Legion Post 127 will honor Ben Hubbard, U.S. Navy WWII veteran who served in submarines in the Pacific Theater, and Jerry Abrahamson, Korean War veteran, who was shot down over North Korea. He spent time as a prisoner of war in North Korea.

Aside from the barbecue,  which requests a $5 donation, these events are free to attend.

  Mary Okeefe