Sacramento Valley National Cemetery is hosting a Memorial Day program at 9 a.m. May 24. The

 

DIXON, CA (MPG) - Sacramento Valley National Cemetery is hosting a free public Memorial Day program at 9 a.m. May 24.

Memorial Day was established in 1868, according to the National Cemetery Administration, a branch of the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. Originally called Decoration Day, the federal holiday was formalized by Grand Army of the Republic Commander-in-Chief John A. Logan.

According to Sacramento Valley Director Ashaley Jackson, the Dixon ceremony on May 24 has plenty to offer.

“Our keynote speaker is retired Lt. Col. Joseph Smith from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). He is with an agency that places prisoners of war (POWs) from World War II onward,” Jackson said. “He’s coming out to discuss the agency and what Memorial Day means to him. He’ll also give a bit of history regarding Memorial Day and how national cemeteries step in and pick up that legacy.”

The event also offers musical selections performed by the United States Air Force Travis Brass Quintet, a flyover by Andy Simpkinson and the Nut Tree Airmen, and an appearance from Dixon Mayor Steve Bird in a guest speaking role. According to Jackson, attendance at the event tends to be about 1,500 to 2,000, so attendees might want to get there early.

“We are going to have signs everywhere, but overflow parking will be at Shelter 4. Motorcycles are asked to park at Shelter 1. VIP and disabled parking are in lanes 1 through 4. Staff will be out directing traffic,” said Jackson.

To Jackson, this event is significant not only because it commemorates the sacrifices of the fallen but also because it can encourage the younger generation to participate.

“We have a generational gap of understanding what freedom is,” said Jackson. “We have the older volunteer groups that come out but the younger generation is not there to step in, so we need to educate them and allow them to understand what freedom really is and the sacrifices that come with protecting it.”

The event would not have been possible without the support of the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery Support Committee, Jackson said, which was tasked with coordinating it and raising money for flags to be placed on the 39,000 gravesites following the ceremony.  

“They are the main group we work with,” said Jackson. “They come out and coordinate everything for us.”

Sacramento Valley National Cemetery is at 5810 Midway Road.

For those who cannot make it on May 24, Sacramento Valley National Cemetery also hosts funeral services for unaccompanied veterans on the third Thursday of every quarter. These veterans passed without any known family or friends to oversee their burial, so the National Cemetery Administration steps in. Sacramento Valley’s next service is at 2 p.m. June 26.

For more information, visit svncsc.org or call 707-693-2460.