Redwood City ceremony to honor fallen veterans

Speeches will be given by keynote speaker Cmdr. George Smith from the American Legion, and another from Peter Manoukian, a Gold Star parent, or a parent whose child died in military action. The title of Manoukian’s speech is “Beer and burgers on Memorial Day?” which will touch on “what Memorial Day is really about,” Klebe said. 

“It’s not a frivolous holiday,” Klebe said. “It’s a serious and important holiday to remember those who have given their lives to this country.” 

While the observance ceremony intends to remind the public of the significance of the holiday, fun is not off the table. The event is punctuated with the firing of the anvil as a much-anticipated grand finale. 

While the event lasts only about an hour, dedicating time to honor those who have committed their lives to serving the country is important for everyone, Klebe said. 

“We still have people dying to serve this country, and they’re dying for all of us, no matter who we are and what we believe in or who we voted for,” Klebe said. “I think Memorial Day can be a coming together for everybody.” 

Since 1889, the Historic Union Cemetery Association has hosted a celebration honoring Memorial Day in front of the statue of a Union Army soldier at the east corner of the cemetery which is the final resting ground for the Grand Army of the Republic, those honorably discharged members of the Union Army, who relocated to California. 

In recent years, HUCA has developed a curriculum for local fourth and fifth graders who are in the midst of learning California history. The association is working with local schools to coordinate field trips to the cemetery, Klebe said. 

Already, students from the Nativity School in Menlo Park and Redeemer School in Redwood City have been able to visit the site, and HUCA is hoping to get students form local public schools on a field trip. Eighth graders from Hoover Elementary have also walked from their campus. 

Students learn that a cemetery is not an inherently creepy place, Klebe said. In fact, it’s a nature spot “filled with beautiful roses, flowers, plants, trees, birds.”

“But, it also helps them relate to the fact that the people who found and worked and developed in our city were real people, not just names in a history book,” Klebe said. 

Putting names and stories to those from Redwood City’s history is a key facet of the Memorial Day celebration, Keleb said, and hopes anyone interested joins at 10 a.m. March 26. 

Attendees can park along Woodside Road and in the parking lot at Crippen and Flynn Woodside Chapel next door, though carpooling or using alternative modes of transportation is encouraged.  

ana@smdailyjournal.com

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