This year’s Memorial Day service at the Benicia Arsenal Post Cemetery will recognize the service of James and Kathren Vanier, who have been the historic site’s caretakers for many years, said Wallace Stephens of the Benicia Historical Society.

Of course, as always, the ceremony also honors “those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, as well as all veterans and those currently serving,” Stephens said. “Attendance at the ceremony has been growing each year and all are invited.”

Col. Paul W. Fellinger Jr., garrison commander of the Presidio of Monterey, is the guest speaker, and the Presidio’s Command Sgt. Major Andrew J. Wynn will recite the Military Oath of Induction.

Master of ceremonies will be Jerry Hayes, president of the Benicia Historical Society, and members of California Army National Guard’s 749th Combat Sustainment Support Batallion, based in Benicia, will be the color guard.

“We anticipate a fly-over from the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station in San Francisco,” Stephens said, and the latest information indicates the Coast Guard will send a helicopter for the ceremony, as well.

Music will be provided by the Diablo Regional Concert Band, under the direction of Cora Martens, and the Military History Preservation Society Rifle Salute Detail, attired in World War II uniforms in observance of the 70th anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy, France, will give the rifle salute.

Society participants and the military divisions they represent are Fred Klink, U.S. Navy 7th Naval Beach Battalion; John Fornbacher, U.S. Navy 25th Naval Construction Regiment (Seabees); Rusty Aquino, U.S. Army 4th Infantry Division; Roque Torres, U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division; Marc Cresci, U.S. Army 1st Infantry Division-Ranger; Senan Kennedy, U.S. Army Air Force Combat Glider Pilot; William Aquino, U.S. Army 29th Infantry Division; George May, U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment; and Mike Hagins, U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment.

Benicia Girl Scout Cadettes Troop 20076 will lead the Pledge of Allegiance, and Larry J. Miller, retired U.S. Navy master chief and vice president of the Benicia Historical Society, will say a prayer that introduces a moment of silence.

Miller, Joe Machado, commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3928, and Kevin Brock, commander of American Legion Post 101, will lay wreaths on the cemetery graves, including those of German and Italian prisoners of war who are buried there.

A wreath will also be placed by Heather Graves and her dog, Rusty, on the graves of military pets buried at the cemetery.

Benicia Boy Scout Troop 8 will assist with the wreath-laying ceremony.

Benicia Poet Laureate Lois Requist will recite some literary works, and Cristina and Shane O’Brien, siblings who are winners of numerous awards for trumpet, will play taps and “Reprise.”

The Benicia Arsenal Post Cemetery, also known as the Benicia Military Cemetery, is the oldest military cemetery on the West Coast, with graves dating back to the 1840s, Stephens said.

“Many of the graves are marked ‘Unknown,’ as the names of those interred there have been lost over time,” he said.

The Benicia Memorial Day ceremony, sponsored by the Benicia Historical Society, will start at 10 a.m. May 26 at the Benicia Military Cemetery, on Hospital Road in the Benicia Arsenal Historic District.

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