Memorial Day: Not a Day of Celebration, But a Day to Remember
Jun 12, 2019 12:00AM ● By By Elise Spleiss
The Citrus Heights Police Department motorcycle team escorts a procession of veterans, some in period dress, Boy Scout Troop 228, and members of the community, pausing at four stations to honor those buried from the Civil War, World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Photo by Steve Gall
CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Memorial Day is not about barbecues, picnics, or races. It is about honoring the sacrifice of more than 1.5 million of our sons and daughters who died in uniform on land and sea and in the air since 1775. However, this number does not include those wounded or missing in action.
This was the theme of the Memorial Day service at Sylvan Cemetery on May 27, 2019. American Legion Post 637 Commander Paul Reyes cited General George S. Patton’s belief that it is wrong to mourn those who died but rather to thank God that “such men lived”.
The Citrus Heights Police Department motorcycle team escorted the procession of veterans, some in period dress including the Sons of the American Revolution, and the rifle guard of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. Other marchers included Boy Scout Troop 228, Citrus Heights American Legion Post 637 and members of the community. The procession wound through the cemetery, stopping at four stations to honor those buried who fought in the Civil War, WWII, Korea and Vietnam with a prayer and a salute.
Following other speakers during the service, Police Chief Ron Lawrence spoke of the special bond the U.S. military and police officers share as they all take the oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”
Lawrence told the dramatic story of one overlooked hero of D-Day who showed extreme bravery under extreme conditions. Fifty-one-year-old General Norman Cota graduated from West Point Military in 1917 with Dwight D. Eisenhower. Cota served his country during peacetime for 30 years before he saw battle on Omaha Beach.
On D-Day, June 6, 1944 Cota was a brigadier general, second in command of the 29th division leading the Allied assault on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France towards the end of War II. His heroic actions that day earned him the Distinguished Service Cross for “personally leading traumatized soldiers through a gap of bloody Omaha Beach” where 2,000 American soldiers died.
The morning ended with a prayer, Harmony Express’s rendition of “Battle Hymn of the Republic”, a rifle salute and Taps being played.
Source: New England Historical Society
