LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Special commemorative events and ceremonies are planned around Lake County on Monday in honor of Memorial Day.
Once again this year the Avenue of Flags Association will display the flags of fallen veterans at cemeteries around Lake County, according to association Vice President Dean Gotham.
Gotham said association members – with the help of local volunteers – will install the flagpoles and mount the large flags along the avenues of county cemeteries.
The flags that are featured in the Avenue of Flags once draped the casket of a fallen veteran.
Upon the completion of the interment ceremony, the family is presented the flag. The family has the option of donating the use of the veterans’ burial flag to the Lake County Veterans Memorial- Avenue of Flags Association.
On Memorial Day and Veterans Day the flags are flown to commemorate the memory of veterans who defended our country.
Gotham said the Avenue of Flags will be presented at the Hartley Cemetery in Lakeport, Upper Lake Cemetery, Kelseyville Cemetery and Lower Lake Cemetery.
Installation of flagpoles and flags will begin at 7 a.m., weather permitting, with flags and flagpoles to be taken down at 4 p.m. Gotham said volunteers would be appreciated at all locations.
Further information is available from the following representatives: Upper Lake, Byron Green at 707-275-9515; Lower Lake, Dave Schober at 707-533-5843; Kelseyville, Paul Harris at 707-279-1115; and Hartley Cemetery in Lakeport, Dean Gotham at 707-350-1159.
Also on Monday, the Middletown Cemetery District will hold Memorial Day services beginning at 9 a.m. on the cemetery grounds, 16357 Butts Canyon Road.
The community is invited to join the services at the Mary Hardesty Building, on the top of the hill, for the festivities and refreshments. Parking will be available there.
The ceremonies will include colorful flowered wreaths, made by the floral design class from the Middletown High School, which will be presented in honor of the veterans.
The 4-H club is in charge of the flag ceremony, and Girl Scouts Troop 10676 will help with wreath placement and programs, and will place the flags on the 203 veterans' graves.
District 1 Supervisor Jim Comstock, a Vietnam veteran, will be the guest speaker and will read the names of the veterans buried in the Middletown Cemetery.
Tribal Chair Jose Simon III will read the veterans' names for the Middletown Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians.
Linda Diehl-Darms, a trustee of the Middletown Cemetery District, will act as mistress of ceremonies.
Voris Brumfield will offer the invocation, with Pastor Claudia Listman of the Middletown Community United Methodist Church to give the benediction.
Buglers Boyd Green and Bill Vann will perform the church call and “Taps,” and the Military Funeral Honors Team of Lake County will offer the 21-gun salute.
The group will be ushered in by the Patriot Guard Riders.
David Neft will provide the sound and keyboard accompanying Kathleen Escude vocalist.
The Lion’s Club provides the chairs and helps with set up on this special day.
Community members are encouraged to attend this important event to honor our veterans.
Commemorative events planned for Memorial Day
- Lake County News reports
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