Memorial Day in Westlake Village

by May 27, 2019Events0 comments

Remembering Those Who Gave Everything

Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks-Griffin Memorial Park was host to its 29th Annual Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony to pay tribute to our fallen heroes from all wars. “We are proud to host this important event and to provide a place for our community to gather and remember those who gave their lives for our country,” said Tamara Eacker, general manager of Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks-Griffin Memorial Park. “We hope that all who mourn can find peace as we honor their loved ones.”

Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks-Griffin Memorial Park was host to its 29th Annual Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony to pay tribute to our fallen heroes from all wars. “We are proud to host this important event and to provide a place for our community to gather and remember those who gave their lives for our country,” said Tamara Eacker, general manager of Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks-Griffin Memorial Park. “We hope that all who mourn can find peace as we honor their loved ones.”

Flyover

The Air National Guard Band of the West Coast provided a pre-ceremony concert. The traditional Avenue of Flags was part of the more than 1,400 flags adorning the graves of our fallen veterans. The event began with an assembly bugle call and an impressive fly over of 5 veteran war aircraft, including a B25 bomber from the Air Force.

In attendance were The 23rd Marines Color Guard, Jerry Knotts, Colonel, USAF, (Ret), Conejo Valley Chapter, Military Order of the World Wars, Robert Melsness, Colonel, USAF, (Ret), past president of Conejo-Simi Valley Chapter, Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Major Gary Dickey, Deputy Chaplain, CA Wing, Civil Air Patrol Chaplain Corps / USAF Auxiliary, Representatives from all five branches of services, Veterans of Foreign Wars. The Memorial Day Choir, comprised of singers from the Village Voices Chorale, the United Methodist Church of Westlake Village, Valley Harmony Singers, Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, Temple Judea, and the Forever Young Singers provided the musical entertainment.

Thanks to the Many Who Produce the Event Each Year

The Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony is produced by members of the Conejo Valley Chapter Military Order of the World Wars, the Conejo-Simi Valley Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America, the DiRaimondo Chapter No. 750 of the Military Order of the Purple Hear, the Eric Huberth Post No. 1139 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the 23rd Marines, 2nd Battalion, Camarillo Composite Squadron 61, Group 4, California Wing, USAF Civil Air Patrol, Village Voices Chorale, United Methodist Church of Westlake Village, Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, Temple Judea, The Valley Harmony Singers, Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks-Griffin Memorial Park, and other civic-minded individuals and organizations.

If you missed this year’s tribute then place it on your calendar for next Memorial Day because we all owe it to our fallen veterans to recognize their sacrifice for our freedom.

Remembering Bud Wilson

On this day I choose to remember a young man who died 50 years ago – 1969 – in Vietnam. His name was David “Bud” Wilson. He was my next door neighbor at the time. Bud was a young guy who was always fun to be around. He rode a motorcycle and drove a jeep. To a 6 year old like me, that was cool. In fact, I remember vividly riding in the back of that jeep as we drove around the neighborhood with my older sister sitting next to me. He would drive in circles and we would hang on for dear life! We couldn’t stop laughing. All these years later I can still remember it clearly. He would let me sit on his black Honda motorcycle (with a chrome gas tank) and I would make the typical motor sounds that kids do when I fantasized riding it down the street. I recall his mother, Joanne, yelling at him one afternoon as he rode it right into the house just to get a laugh from the neighborhood kids! It worked! She was so mad! Bud was quite a character. He was drafted into the army at age 19.

In his first brush with death Bud was hit with shrapnel from a grenade and he received a Purple Heart for his injuries. He recovered from that incident and was soon sent back in the war zone again. The next time he wasn’t so lucky. He died when the private in front of him stepped on a land mine. Bud Wilson was just 20 years old. We were all devastated. His family never recovered from the loss as is expected. And to this day his sister still speaks of the tragedy, after 5 decades, as if it were yesterday. Such a horrible experience for any family to go through. He’s buried in the Los Angeles National Cemetery in Westwood.

Let’s never forget young men like David Wilson and the sacrifices they’ve made for our country.

Thank You to All that Have Served in Our Military!

Watch the Video Below

Armed Forces Medley on Memorial Day in Westlake Village, CA

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