FAIR OAKS, CA (MPG) - At 10:30 AM on Saturday, May 28, 2022 the 24^th traditional Memorial Day service was held at the Fair Oaks Cemetery off of Sunset and New York Avenue in Fair Oaks.

Each year the Fair Oaks community, including the American Legion (AL) and American Legion Auxiliary (ALA), American Legion Riders, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Scout Troop 380, Fair Oaks Rotary, cemetery staff, and volunteers gather on the Saturday before Memorial Day for a somber but uplifting morning.

The work of the Scout Troop 380 was visible throughout the day. According to District Manager Guillermo Barron, Elizabeth Ruygt, a Gold Star Mom, and her scouts have been helping at the Veterans Memorial Wall, located in the new cemetery since 2007, for 15 years.  Every year, just before Memorial Day the names of the new Veterans laid to rest there are added to the wall. Even during 2020 and 2021 when there was no audience, they still did the wreath laying and flag ceremony.  In 2020 they put flags on graves stones, masked and with a parent. At today’s service they carried out the traditional flag and wreath ceremonies without a flaw.  The new flag for the ceremony was donated by family of a veteran buried there. The wreath was donated by Warren McWilliams and the Fair Oaks Rotary Club.

In her speech Ruygt urged the audience to remember the families of service members. “When a veteran serves, the family serves. When a veteran is lost, the family suffers the loss. When a veteran is honored and remembered, the family is also.” She also emphasized the difference between the three big holidays recognizing our veterans: Armed Forces Day on the 3^rd Saturday in May which honors current active military in uniform, Memorial Day honors who have died in service of their country, or later on as a result of their service. Veterans Day is for those who have ‘hung up their uniform’ and are no longer in active service.

More than 300 cookies were provided by various community organizations for refreshments following the service.

Every year millions of red crepe poppies – all handmade by veterans at VA hospitals as part of their therapeutic rehabilitation – are distributed across the country for donations. Funds raised go to assist disabled and hospitalized veterans, active duty servicemembers and their families. The veterans are paid for each poppy.  American Legion Auxiliary 383 set up a Poppy Table at the cemetery where they distributed the paper poppies and educated those stopping by on the history and importance of the project.

The Fair Oaks Cemetery was founded on October 21, 1902, on ½ acre of land. The cemetery facilities now cover 12 acres. Approximately 200 burials are performed each year. About a dozen of the veterans buried served in the Civil War.

Source: Fair Oaks Cemetery District; American Legion Auxiliary