Monterey County Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Day Ceremony
The Monterey County Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Committee is holding its annual Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 26 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
About 200 to 300 28th District American Legion riders will be escorted to the area by members of the Monterey Police Department. Noni Baughman, chaplain from the American Legion Post 593 in Prunedale, will deliver an opening prayer.
Three young children will lead the attendees in the pledge of allegiance, and then Julie Posey of the A and C Engraving Company in Salinas will sing the National Anthem.
Also on the agenda:
Jeffrey Ramsden, the bagpiper from the Salinas Police Department will be escorting in the Color Guards.
Members of the Purple Heart, Chapter 549 Monterey, will post the Purple Heart Flag on one side of the Purple Heart Monument and the American Flag on the other side of the Monument. Color Guard members from the Salinas Police Department, the Navy DLI and the Salinas Fire Department also will participate. Presentation of the Fallen Soldier and the Missing Mans’ Chair, which is draped in a black cover with the letters POW/MIA stitched on it. Jimmy Panetta, son of Leon Panetta, will speak.
Reading of the names of the 78 men from Monterey County who were killed in action will be read, and the 13 names of those killed in Iraqi and Afghanistan.
Veterans in attendance will be acknowledged, alone with all of the Gold Star families who come.
The ceremony takes place at 855 Veterans’ Way at the Monterey County Vietnam
Veterans’ Memorial Park.
