MEMORIAL DAY TRIBUTE SALUTES THE FALLEN FLAGS FLY IN GRATITUDE TO VETERANS AS WORLD WAR II PLANES FLY OVER.

Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer

NEWHALL - Memorial Day at Eternal Valley was a day of both quiet reflection and celebration.

As a father and his two young sons worked to clean a bronze headstone in the shade of a hillside tree, Santa Clarita Mayor Bob Kellar was at a makeshift podium at the entrance to the memorial park, looking out over hundreds of people gathered to commemorate the patriotic sacrifice of this country's veterans.

Suddenly, nine World War II planes from the Condor Squadron at Van Nuys Airport flew over, followed by an Air Force flyover, adding an air of excitement to the morning and stirring the thousands of flags placed by local Scouts on the grave sites of veterans.

``We had 760 Boy Scouts here over the weekend and the rest were Girl Scouts,'' said Kymmer Crookston, who oversaw the flag project. ``Altogether we have 4,275 flags out there.''

Duane Harte, president of the Santa Clarita Veterans Memorial Committee, and a decorated Navy veteran, emceed the event. He referred to his father-in-law's name on the marble Veterans Memorial Wall at the top of the hill and introduced his father, who was sitting near the front of the audience. He reminded the audience what Memorial Day is all about.

``We are here to honor those who served, and today we include those who have served in Iraq,'' Harte said. ``Without you we would not be here doing this today.''

As he spoke, a small fixed-wing aircraft towed a banner overhead, reading ``All Gave Some, Some Gave All.'' The Santa Clarita Valley Concert Band provided musical interludes of patriotic songs throughout the morning.

In an interesting twist to the traditional ceremony, Kellar introduced a short film that had been screened at the recent International Family Film Festival called ``Reveille.'' Created by Adan and Donovan Montierth, the short film depicted a friendly rivalry between two retired Army and Navy neighbors who go out to raise the flag at their complex each morning. As the film came to its bittersweet ending, many of those gathered were seen wiping their eyes.

The ceremonies wrapped up with the release of 18 white doves, followed by a rifle salute by the All Veterans Burial Squad and the playing of taps. Names of those veterans on the memorial wall at the top of the park were read at the conclusion of the event.

Carol Rock, [phone]

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Monday's Memorial Day tribute ends with taps and a rifle salute at Eternal Valley Memorial Park and Mortuary in Newhall.

(2 -- color) Nine World War II planes from the Condor Squadron at Van Nuys Airport flew over the event.

(3) Dave and Constance Bonelli brought their children Derek, left, and Alex to Memorial Day celebrations Monday at Eternal Valley Memorial Park in Newhall to pay respects at the graves of relatives.

Phil McCarten/Staff Photographer