CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - It is good to be back! Following two years of low attendance and modified programs, all voiced their appreciation to be back at the Sylvan Cemetery on May 30, 2022, to honor those who had given all they had for others to be alive and free.

The Harmony Express men’s choral group was back with its many patriotic songs throughout the service.

Hosted by American Legion Post 637, member and Master of Ceremony Paul Reyes welcomed all veterans and guests. County Supervisor Sue Frost, a Citrus Heights native, returned to this venue to honor those veterans who gave their lives for their country.  She acknowledged and thanked Regent Deborah Bartlett of the John A. Sutter Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution for their work.

Later in the morning Bartlett gave a history of DAR and its purpose which includes “promoting patriotism, preserving American history and securing American’s future through better education for children.” She described Memorial Day as the “most poignant federal holiday.”  All veterans who had served during the Vietnam War period, whether in Vietnam or at home between November 1, 1955 and May 15, 1975 were honored with a special Vietnam War lapel pin and a certificate. Surviving spouses of Vietnam veterans who had died also received a pin.

Post 637 Commander Sylvia Thweatt shared the fascinating history of Arlington Cemetery in Washington DC and the land it was built on, beginning in 1857 until today.

Jim Monteton Sylvan Cemetery Board Trustee and member of American Legion Post 637 took us from the first colonist’s delivery of the Declaration of Independence to King George back home, through all the wars in American history and how, despite great loss of life, our fighting men and women have gotten stronger and stronger with more resolve to keep America free. Nearly 400 million members of our military have given their lives for us. Many that do return home safe become police officers and firefighters. Americans are tough and use their strength not only for themselves but to answer the call when needed in other countries. There are over 1,400 veterans from the Civil War to Vietnam buried at Sylvan. Many are husbands and wives, both veterans.

Two local veterans had interesting stories. Thomas Gresham had served from 1966 to 1967 as an Entertainment NCO on the USS Bennington. He escorted entertainers including Bob Hope, Nancy Sinatra, Hank Snow and Oral Roberts to Vietnam entertainment venues.

Air Force veteran Michael Coughlan, served throughout the East Coast from 1957 the 1961. He read a poem which he had written for Memorial Day 2014. He felt privileged to read it at the beginning of the service voicing his deep-felt appreciation and honor for those who had given their lives so he could live free. Here are several sentences from that poem titled “I Never.”

“I never had to say goodbye and go away to fight a war. I never felt that terror as my friends were dying beside me. I never saw death’s face staring at my soul nor felt the ecstasy of victory as I waved our flag atop a bloodied hill. The ones that were there did that for me and forever are gone. No, let us never forget and let us never stop thanking them from our heart’s deepest depths that are even beyond our soul.