78th Annual Fullerton Memorial Day Observance

Description

Women in the Military Service will be the focus of a special salute Monday, May 30, at the 78th Annual Fullerton Memorial Day Observance.

The program, which will begin at 10 a.m., will be held at Loma Vista Memorial Park, 701 E. Bastanchury Road.  Free to the public, the program is sponsored by the nonprofit American Veterans Memorial Association and Loma Vista Memorial Park, and in collaboration with the City of Fullerton.

Members of the public, and all veterans, especially women veterans, are invited to attend.

Special guest speaker will be Vice Admiral Nora Tyson, United States Navy, Commanding Officer, U.S. Third Fleet, San Diego.  Prior to her current command, she has held several other leadership positions in the Navy.

Air Combat USA will provide the Missing Man Formation Flyover prior to the arrival of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department helicopter with the honored guests.  The speaker will be escorted to the podium by JROTC cadets from Troy high school Navy JROTC. 

The oldest continuous Memorial Day ceremony in Orange County, Fullerton's program began in 1939 when C. Stanley Chapman, son of the city's first mayor, began the tradition of placing a small white cross and an American flag at the grave of each veteran at Loma Vista.

This year, community volunteers will place a cross and flag on more than 4,100 veterans’ graves throughout the cemetery.

Ed Paul, adjutant of Fullerton American Legion Post 142 and coordinator of the American Veterans Memorial Association, will serve as master of ceremonies.

Patriotic music will be sung by Dave Deno, creative director for radio stations KKLA, KRLA and KFSH, and by Kristen Romero.  Officers from the Fullerton Police Department will provide escort support, raise the colors, and present the gun salute.  Officer Kyle Baas, Bagpiper, will play Amazing Grace and “Taps” and “Echo” will be played by Steve Plett and Ana Plett.  Individual photos of Women Veterans will be taken by Brian Knott of Forget Me Knott Photography and special commemorative pins will be given to each women veteran in attendance thanks to a contribution from Fullerton Rotary.

Participating in the observance will be the Fullerton Firefighters' Association, the Fullerton Police Color Guard, the U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II, Fullerton American Legion Post 142 and the Post’s Commanders Club, Troy Navy JROTC and the Orange County Reserve Deputy Sheriff’s.

For more information please visit AVMAFullerton.org