A LOOK BACK:Remember fallen heroes

On Monday we honored our fallen heroes on Memorial Day — or, as my parents called it, Decoration Day. This was a day we picked flowers and decorated the graves of relatives as families continue to do today.

Huntington Beach has traditionally honored its fallen heroes on this special day with parades, speeches and trips to the cemetery.

On Monday, there was a ceremony at Pier Plaza to honor those in the military. This event was due to the hard work of members of the American Legion Post 133, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Jewish War Veterans.

In the past, this ceremony was held beside the city’s War Memorial, a granite monument first erected at the old civic center at Orange Avenue between Fifth and Sixth streets.

Into this polished gray granite stone was etched the words, “Lest We Forget Our Heroes of All War,” and was first dedicated on May 30, 1949 by Mayor Jack Greer in a ceremony attended by more than 1,500 people.

When the new civic center was built at Main and Yorktown, the granite memorial was brought from its old location to sit proudly between the city hall and the police station.

It was rededicated on Nov. 11, 1979, and in the late 1990s a new black monument replaced the original one, thanks in part to Bob Kakuk of the Vietnam Veterans of Orange County and members of our local VFW and American Legion.

Through their efforts more names have been added to those from the two world wars.

A second place that honors and remembers those who served in the military and who attended Huntington High during World War II is found in the school’s auditorium.

Inside the foyer of the auditorium is a large Honor Plaque listing the names of former students who served in that war.

During the 60th anniversary of World War II the students and alumni restored this honor roll with a rededication held on July 24, 2004.

Just before we entered World War II in 1941 our city observed this special holiday on Friday, May 30. All of our veteran and patriotic organizations participated.

This ceremony began with a parade at 10 a.m. that started at Sixth Street and traveled down Main Street to the first “T” of the pier where more memorial ceremonies took place.

At the head of this parade was an armed guard from the U.S. Marine Detachment at Roosevelt Field from Terminal Island followed by members of our military organizations carrying the colors.

Following the colors came members of the American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps, and behind them were members of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) and Woman’s Relief Corps (WRC) of the civil war, the United Spanish War Veterans, American Legion and Legion Auxiliary groups from Huntington Beach, Midway City, Seal Beach and Garden Grove.

Right behind came our Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and the Huntington Beach Royal Neighbors Drill Team and several local organizations.

Music filled the air as Huntington Beach High School Band members marched passed a delighted audience.

At the end of the parade marched many of the youngsters from our grammar school carrying flowers.

Once at the pier, Rev. Luther A. Arthur gave a memorial prayer followed by the playing of “God Bless America” by the American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps.

Joseph Perry sang the national anthem accompanied by the high school band.

A “Salute to the Dead” by the U.S. Marine Firing Squad echoed in the ears of those who attended this event.

The Legion’s Drum and Bugle Corps sounded “Taps” while the children from the grammar school cast floral offerings on the water in memory of those who gave their lives for their country.

Following the end of the ceremony at the pier, several members of the American Legion, VFW and members of the high school band headed to Westminster Memorial Park to join in a Memorial Day ceremony along with other patriotic organizations from Garden Grove, Midway City and Seal Beach.

Members of our high school band led a short parade from the park’s entrance to a stage that had been erected.

Rev. James Garfield Hurst from the First Christian Church offered a prayer followed by members of Dr. Ralph Hawes girls’ chorus performing several vocal selections.

Our school band entertained the audience with several musical numbers followed by more vocal selections performed by a trio from the Seal Beach Legion Auxiliary.

The past Commander of the Orange County Council of the American Legion, Lewis Blodget, offered the memorial address.

The ladies from the American Legion Auxiliary and Woman’s Relief Corps offered a floral ceremony followed by a salute by the Marine Firing Squad.

The playing of “Taps” by the Legion’s Drum and Bugle Corps ended the 1941 Memorial Day program.

But while the program ended, the holiday continued with families bringing flowers and small flags to cemeteries across Orange County to lay on the graves of their loved ones.

I recommend stopping by the city’s War Memorial on the Lake Street side of the civic center to remember those people whose names are forever etched it its stone face. Let’s never forget how our these residents gave their lives for our freedom.