■ City Memorial Day observance to mark end of World War II

Memorial Day, a commemoration that dates to the end of the Civil War, will honor those who have died in combat in a ceremony at the Benicia Arsenal Post Cemetery on Monday.

This year the event also will acknowledge the end of World War II 70 years ago, said Wallace Stephens, a member of the Benicia Historical Society and co-chairperson, with Kerry Carney, of the ceremony.

Guest speaker this year is Garrison Command Sgt. Major Andrew J. Wynn of the Presidio of Monterey.

A native of Jacksonville, Fla., Wynn started his Army career in 1986, training in Fort Dix, N.H., and Fort Gordon, Ga.

Wynn is a decorated member of the military, having received the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, a seventh Good Conduct Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary medal with Bronze Service Star, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, Southwest Asia Service medal with three Bronze Service Stars, two Global War on Terrorism medals, a Humanitarian Service Medal and multiple other awards.

The Benicia Historical Society annually organizes the Memorial Day ceremony in honor of both those who have given their lives in service to the United States and those who have served or are current members of the American uniformed services, Stephens said.

Activities begin Monday with the 7:30 a.m. raising of flags at Benicia Veterans Memorial Building, 1150 First St.

The oversized garrison flag will then be raised at the Benicia Arsenal Historic Cemetery off Hospital Road in the Benicia Arsenal Historic District.

Flags and flowers will be placed on the graves of those buried in the Arsenal cemetery, which was established in 1849 and is on the national Register of Historic Places.

The cemetery has 211 graves, dating from its first year, when First Lt. Charles E. Jarvis was buried there, and continuing through 1958, when Emelie G. Brammer, wife of Staff Sgt. Charles Brammer, was interred.

Of those buried at the cemetery, 123 are U.S. military service peopl; nine are members of the German and Italian military who died as prisoners of war; 61 are civilians, including dependents of the soldiers stationed at the Arsenal; 18 are of unknown affiliation; and three are dogs who were pets of service members.

The Memorial Day ceremony itself starts at 10 a.m. with a musical performance by the Diablo Regional Concert Band.

Members of the Benicia Girl Scouts Troop 20076 Cadettes will lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Coast Guard Air Station in San Francisco will perform a flyover by a MH-65D helicopter.

Larry J. Miller, a retired U.S. Navy Master Chief; Kevin Brock, commander of the American Legion Benicia Post 101; and Oren Rae, commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3928, Benicia, will lay wreaths for the American soldiers.

Dorothy DiAngelo Patchell and Bill Patchell will do the same to honor the Italian soldiers, and Ingeborg Junginger, vice president of the United German-American Societies of the East Bay, will lay a wreath for those from Germany.

Heather Graves and Rusty, representing Benica Boy Scout Troop 8, led by John Lovett, will lay wreaths for the service pets.

Don Peery, Benicia’s poet laureate, will read verses prior to the introduction of Wynn’s talk.

After the garrison leader’s comments, Master Sgt. Gerardo R. Alan, also of the Presidio of Monterey, will administer the Military Oath of Enlistment.

The 70th anniversary of the end of World War II will be recognized during the Rifle Salute, performed by members of the Military History Preservation Society Rifle Salute Detail, who will be attired in uniforms of American military units.
Fred Klink will represent the U.S. Navy Amphibious Forces Quartermaster First Class; Ken Wetherall will be in U.S. Army 99th Infantry Division 395th Infantry Regiment uniform; John Fornbacher, in the U.S. Navy Naval Construction Battalion (Seebees) uniform; Rusty Aquino and Roque Torres, in U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment uniform; Senan Kennedy, in U.S. Army Air Force Combat Glider Pilot 439th Troop Carrier Group uniform; William Aquino, in U.S. Marine Corps uniform; and George May, U.S. Army 11th Airborne Division 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment.

Shane and Chris O’Brien will play “Taps: Call and Reprise” before members of the American Legion retire the colors.

Refreshments will be served at the cemetery.

The military cemetery can be reached from Military East by taking a left on Hospital Road, then following signs through the gate to the cemetery parking lot.

At noon, veterans will have a barbecue at the Benicia Veterans Memorial Building. Flags will be lowered at the memorial building at 4 p.m. Monday and at the military cemetery at 4:30 p.m. Monday.

SolTrans will provide a complimentary shuttle to and from the Benicia Memorial Day ceremony in the Arsenal.

The shuttle will provide complimentary service from Military West and First Street, at City Park, to the historic Arsenal ceremony, departing the park at 7:45 a.m. Monday and arriving at the cemetery five minutes later.

The shuttle will return to City Park at 8 a.m. and will make the circuit every 20 minutes, ending at noon at City Park.

Monday also is a day in which California State Parks will honor veterans and active and reserve military personnel by offering free admission to participating state parks in recognition of Memorial Day.

Debbie Endsley, California Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary, said, “Offering free admission to our beautiful parks is one of the many ways our state honors veterans and service men and women on Memorial Day. Giving them the opportunity to enjoy some of the history and beauty our state has to offer is the very least we can do for them.”

She said 133 state parks, eight state vehicular recreation areas and the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento are participating.

Veterans, active-duty military and those in the reserves will need to show a valid military identification or proof of honorable discharge to be admitted to the parks at no charge.

Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill last year that authorizes California State Parks to offer former, active and reserve military personnel from the United States Armed Forces and National Guard of any state either reduced or free day use of California state parks.

In addition, the department has a free “Distinguished Veteran Pass” for honorably discharged war veterans who live in California, who were prisoners of war or who have received the Medal of Honor. Those interested in applying for that pass may visit the department website, www.parks.ca.gov.

The California Highway Patrol also has honored members of its department who have died in the line of duty.

During its 86 years, the CHP has lost 225 members, of whom 37 served in the local Golden Gate Division, said Avery A. Browne, assistant commissioner.

During a ceremony Wednesday morning at Golden Gate Division Headquarters in Vallejo, the CHP remembered their fallen colleagues with the posting of colors, playing of taps and a roll call of the 37 division members who have died while on duty, after which a memorial bell was rung.

Benicia’s Memorial Day activities start at 7:30 a.m. Monday with the raising of the flags at Benicia Veterans Memorial Building, 1150 First St.; and at 8 a.m. with the raising of the garrison flag and Memorial Day ceremony at the Benicia Arsenal Historic Cemetery, off Hospital Road in the Benicia Arsenal Historic District.