PAYING GRAVE TRIBUTE A SALUTE TO THOSE WHO SERVED.Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer NEWHALL - As U.S. flags graced the graves of the nearly 4,000 veterans buried at Eternal Valley Memorial Park, more than 1,000 people gathered Monday to share their thoughts of gratitude for the men and women of the U.S. military. With many local residents still thinking about the terrorist attacks of last fall, the Newhall memorial park saw its largest-ever crowd at its annual Memorial Day tribute honoring those who protected America. ``The events of 9-11 are still painfully fresh and it brought more people out,'' said Kathy Van Duzee, president of the Santa Clarita Valley The Santa Clarita Valley is the valley of the Santa Clara River in Southern California. It stretches through Los Angeles County and Ventura County. Its main population center is the city of Santa Clarita. The valley was part of the 48,612-acre (19,672. Veterans Memorial Committee. ``Everything that has happened has brought about a new awareness of who veterans are and what Memorial Day stands for.'' While about 700 people attended last year's ceremonial tribute, close to 1,100 people flocked to the memorial park Monday for a ceremony that included a somber som·ber adj. 1. a. Dark; gloomy. b. Dull or dark in color. 2. a. Melancholy; dismal: a somber mood. b. Serious; grave. reading of about 660 names from the Santa Clarita Valley Veterans Memorial Wall. ``If these veterans weren't here, we wouldn't have the freedoms we do,'' Van Duzee said. ``We want to show respect for them and what they have done for us.'' The terrorist attacks that killed more than 3,000 people in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. and at the Pentagon have renewed America's patriotism Patriotism See also Chauvinism, Loyalty. America, Captain comic-strip character known as the “protector of the American way.” [Comics: Horn, 155–156] American elm traditional symbol of American patriotism. and value of freedom. ``The Sept. 11 attacks have brought war home to us,'' said state Assemblyman as·sem·bly·man n. A man who is a member of a legislative assembly. assemblyman Noun pl -men a member of a legislative assembly Noun 1. Keith Richman Dr. Keith S. Richman is a California, United States, Republican politician. From 2001 to 2007, he served in the California State Assembly representing the 38th Assembly District based in Northwest Los Angeles County. , R-Granada Hills. ``The terrorists carried the battle to our shores. They have made us all warriors in our own way.'' Richman, the guest speaker, presented a short lesson on the creation of Memorial Day and reiterated that the responsibility of keeping the spirit alive belongs to all Americans. ``As we celebrate Memorial Day, we stand on the shoulders of those who signed the Declaration of Independence,'' Richman said. ``We must all work to protect our democracy. We need to work hard to uphold up·hold tr.v. up·held , up·hold·ing, up·holds 1. To hold aloft; raise: upheld the banner proudly. 2. To prevent from falling or sinking; support. 3. our ideals.'' The 90-minute tribute also included a World War II flyover by the Condor Squadron, patriotic songs, a rifle salute, the release of doves and the playing of taps. ``It's very emotional,'' said Karl Vogeley of Valencia, a retired Army sergeant who came to the ceremony in his 1970s-era fatigue jacket, desert hat and boots, with sunglasses sunglasses A tinted pair of glasses used to ↓ light arriving at the eye, which are labeled according to the amount of UV light blocked; nonprescription glasses are classified according to use and amount of UV radiation blocked Sunglasses to shield his tears. ``It's very moving.'' Vogeley, the father of four, has a daughter in the Air Force and a son starting Army boot camp Software from Apple that enables an Intel x86-based Macintosh to host the Windows XP operating system. Boot Camp is used to divide the hard disk into Windows and Mac partitions, to install the necessary drivers and to create a dual boot environment. next month. ``This is the first time I've come to this where we've had troops engaged in combat,'' said Vogeley, who volunteered to return to active duty after the Sept. 11 attacks, but was turned down. Following the service, Al Piantanida, 62, and Francene De Wall, both of Arleta, sat at the site where Piantanida's wife and De Wall's daughter were buried. ``I've always been patriotic,'' said Piantanida, who served in the Army during the Vietnam War Vietnam War, conflict in Southeast Asia, primarily fought in South Vietnam between government forces aided by the United States and guerrilla forces aided by North Vietnam. . ``But this year Memorial Day means so much more. It has 10 times the meaning that it did before.'' CAPTION(S): 4 photos Photo: (1 -- 2 -- color) A veteran salutes during the playing of taps Monday at Memorial Day observances at Eternal Valley Memorial Park in Newhall. Below, a Cub Scout from the Bill Hart District places American flags on graves at Eternal Valley Memorial Park. (3 -- 4) The Condor Squadron, left, flies over in the missing man formation Monday at Eternal Valley Memorial Park in Newhall. Above, U.S. Navy veteran Frank LaRosa of North Hollywood salutes during Memorial Day observances in Newhall. Tina Burch/Staff Photographer |
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