Helping drive home the true meaning of Memorial Day on Monday afternoon, keynote speaker Jay Conner offered up actions people should, and shouldn’t do, on the holiday.
“There are things that you shouldn’t do on Memorial Day. The first one is you shouldn’t say ‘Happy Memorial Day,’ because a lot of people feel it’s inappropriate to say happy on a somber day such as Memorial Day,” said Conner, a founding member of Honor Flight Central Coast and a 24-year member of Santa Maria Elks Lodge 1538.
Conner spoke during the Elks’ Memorial Day ceremony Monday afternoon, reciting the history of the holiday that originated as Decoration Day after the Civil War.
Approximately 50 people gathered for the ceremony, led by Exalted Ruler Steve Reyburn at the veterans memorial just inside Gate 2 at the Santa Maria Elks/Unocal Event Center, where preparations are underway for the rodeo.
Instead of “Happy Memorial Day,” Conner suggested people could say, “Remember our heroes” or “Have a meaningful Memorial Day.”
“These alternatives acknowledge the holiday’s purpose — honoring those that had died, always remembering that freedom does not come easy, the liberties that we enjoy today came at a very heavy sacrifice,” he said.
“This is the home of the free because of the brave,” he added.
Among actions people should do, Conner noted the National Moment of Remembrance calling for Americans to pause for a moment at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day to remember those who died while serving in the military.
Two hours earlier, people gathered at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Orcutt to remember the selflessness of those who served. Steve Mainville, commander of American Legion District 16 and Post 534, acted as the master of ceremonies.
“Everything we have, everything we are, is built upon the sacrifices of service members who came before us,” said Lt. Col. Niki Barry, 30th Healthcare Operations Squadron commander at Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Attendees and participants for Santa Maria Valley ceremonies battled blustery conditions threatening to knock over easels holding wreaths. In Orcutt, Boy Scout Troop 91 members were enlisted to keep the easels, and wreaths, upright.
Memorial Day ceremonies occurring in multiple communities take place “for those who can no longer stand against the threat to our freedom,” Barry said during the Orcutt ceremony. “Service members embody the meaning of sacrifice for the greater good and that greater good isn’t some abstract ideal.”
The greater good can be seen in the faces of children, spouses, neighbors and friends.
“We honor the memory of our fallen heroes by carrying their legacy of sacrifice and dedication in our hearts as we move forward, united in our commitment to safeguarding the values and freedoms we hold sacred,” Barry said.
Lt. Col. Niki Barry, 30th Healthcare Operations Squadron commander at Vandenberg Space Force Base, speaks Monday during a Memorial Day ceremony in Orcutt. Credit: Janene Scully / Noozhawk photo 
Jay Conner delivers the keynote speech Monday afternoon during the Santa Maria Elks Lodge ceremony for Memorial Day at the Santa Maria Elks/Unocal Event Center. Credit: Janene Scully / Noozhawk photo 
Sons of American Legion member Paul Cuce Jr. plays “Taps” at the end of the Memorial Day ceremony Monday at Orcutt’s Pine Grove Cemetery. Credit: Janene Scully / Noozhawk photo Veterans salute during the playing of “Taps” at the end of the Memorial Day ceremony Monday afternoon at the Santa Maria Elks/Unocal Event Center. Credit: Janene Scully / Noozhawk photo Members of Boy Scout Troop 91 bow their heads during a prayer while also ensuring easels holding wreaths don’t topple in the wind Monday at the Memorial Day ceremony at Pine Grove Cemetery in Orcutt. Credit: Janene Scully / Noozhawk photo 
Pernell Rush of the American Legion Riders provides the closing prayer Monday at Orcutt’s Pine Grove Cemetery as Steve Mainville, commander of American Legion District 16 and Post 534, bows his head. Credit: Janene Scully / Noozhawk photo
She remembered some Santa Barbara County military members who made the ultimate sacrifice, including Navy Master Chief Petty Officer Louis Langlais of Santa Barbara, Marine Cpl. Aaron Allen from the Santa Ynez Valley and Army Sgt. 1st Class Mitchell Lane of Lompoc.
She repeated a quote by former President Harry Truman: “Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices.”
“It is our solemn duty to ensure that promise is kept,” Barry said. “We must actively remind our friends, family, neighbors and fellow service members of the profound impact of their actions and sacrifices.”
She was among several Vandenberg commanders to speak Monday at Central Coast ceremonies, including as far away as Ojai.
Other North County ceremonies took place at the Santa Maria Cemetery, the Los Alamos Cemetery, the Evergreen Cemetery in Lompoc and the Guadalupe Cemetery.
Along with smaller ceremonies at cemeteries across the Santa Ynez Valley, a larger event occurred at the Solvang Veterans Memorial Building. Afterward, the Santa Ynez Elks Lodge 2640 served 200 free barbecue tri-tip sandwiches.
Click here for coverage of the ceremony in Santa Barbara, and click here for coverage of the ceremony in Goleta.