U.S. Cavalry saluted in Fullerton Memorial Day service

Description

    The 73^rd Annual Fullerton Memorial Day Ceremony will feature a special salute to the U.S. Army’s 11^th Armored Cavalry.  Guest speaker Col. Tony Aguto, commander of the 11^th Armored Calvary, will arrive at the ceremony aboard an Orange County Sheriff’s Department helicopter. This year, community volunteers will place a cross and flag on more than 3,800 veterans’ graves throughout the cemetery. Sharing the Memorial Day podium with Aguto will be Ed Paul, adjutant of Fullerton American Legion Post 142 and coordinator of the American Veterans Memorial Association, who will serve as master of ceremonies.
            Patriotic music will be sung by Dave Deno, creative director for radio stations KKLA, KRLA and KFSH, and Kristen Romero.  Officers from the Fullerton Police Department will present the gun salute, and “Taps” and “Echo” will be played. 
            Members of the G Company, 2^ndBattalion, 23^rdMarines, of Los Alamitos Naval Air Station will assist with the wreath-laying ceremony.
            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, 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Fullerton Emblem Club 469, Fullerton Rotary, Fullerton Saturday A.M. Y’s Mens Club, and the Daughters of the American Revolution – Mojave Chapter.
            Also assisting with the program will be the Buena Park Emblem Club 340, 11^thArmored CavalryRegiment, Fullerton Elks Lodge 1993, GFWC Ebell Clubs of Fullerton and Placentia, Placentia American Legion Auxiliary Unit 277, Womens Club of Fullerton, Fullerton Knights of Columbus Council 4018, Cub Scout Pack 1218, and Greenleaf Gardens Masonic Lodge 670.
               Special guest, Karen Gideon will assist with the tribute to POWs/MIAs during the ceremony. Karen, a Fullerton resident whose uncle, Claude "Bud" Ray, a tail gunner in the Army Air Corps during World War II, was shot down in 1943.  His remains were discovered in 2003 in a remote jungle in Papua New Guinea and recovered by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command.  Last October his remains were finally identified through DNA testing of Mrs. Gideon and her brother, and Claude "Bud" Ray was buried at Riverside National Cemetery.