Special Flag raised in Memorial Day Ceremony at California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery
The American flag, escorted by three American Legion Riders across the country, was raised for the first time on Memorial Day at California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery.
Steve “Pops” Culver, Hy “Crash” Libby and Rick “Phin” Phinney rode the flag nearly 10,000 miles across the United States back in September, known as the “Epic Ride.”
They ultimately took it to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery where it flew before being returned to the Central Coast.
As a new tradition and way to honor that flag along with all veterans, the flag will be flown at the CCCVC every Memorial Day.
Culver says having that connection to Arlington is something that cannot be broken, “to have that connection with basically the most hallow cemetery in our country, with veterans and the tomb of the unknown, it’s hard to put into words.”
KION was told this is the only Veterans Cemetery in the U.S. that has a flag that was flown over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Several elected officials were at the inaugural ceremony including U.S. Congressman Jimmy Panetta; State Senator Bill Monning; State Assembly member Anna Caballero; Chair of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors Luis Alejo; City of Seaside Mayor Ralph Rubio; and Manager of the California Central Coast Veterans Cemetery Erica Chaney.
Caballero tells KION “these riders took the flag, traveled thousands of miles on their motorcycles in order to hand it over to Arlington to fly it over the tomb of the unknown soldier, it’s very moving.”
Mayor Rubio says it’s something he is proud to have in his city, “it’s a symbol of determination of this nation. You look at the history of this nation and history of our armed forces, they have been the most determined in the most darkest times. And they have prevailed and that’s the spirit that this flag embodies.”
Several speakers at the ceremony pointed out that those who have fought or lost their lives fighting for our country’s freedom can sometimes be seen as a name or number on a wall.
But each of those who fought has a family who sees Memorial Day as more than just National Holiday, “it’s personal for a lot of families, you know we lost 58 thousand soldiers in Vietnam. The time that I served from 66-69 I knew guys that went to Vietnam and they didn’t come home. And those 58 thousand all had family,” says Phinney.
The CCCVC is still a work in progress. It was opened in October 2016, they are working to raise more money to be able to provide families with in-ground burial options.
