Goleta City Councilman James Kyriaco was among the speakers Monday at Memorial Day ceremonies at the Goleta Cemetery. Said Kyriaco: ‘Today is about loving and honoring our veterans.’ 
Bill Boetticher plays the bagpipes Monday during Memorial Day ceremonies at the Goleta Cemetery. Credit: Fritz Olenberger photo 
Dozens turned out Monday for Memorial Day ceremonies at the Goleta Cemetery. Credit: Fritz Olenberger photo 
Drew Wakefield was the keynote speaker Monday at Memorial Day ceremonies at the Goleta Cemetery. Said Wakefield: ‘It is about honoring, memorializing, remembering, telling the story, showing the picture of the brave service men and women that paid the ultimate price.’ 
Members of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps Air Pac Squadron. 
Attendees at the Memorial Day ceremonies at the Goleta Cemetery included many veterans. 
Ronnie-Shahbazian, chaplain of AMVETS Post 3, gave the invocation.
AmVets Santa Barbara Post 3 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1649 presented a Memorial Day service at the Goleta Cemetery District on Monday, with speakers and performances to pay tribute to those who died while serving in the military.
“Today is about loving and honoring our veterans,” Goleta City Councilman James Kyriaco said. “It’s where we honor those who not only served, but died.”
Dozens of veterans and community members gathered at the cemetery — which had small American flags at each gravestone — for the ceremony, several bringing photos of family members who served in the military.
Speakers included Congressman Salud Carbajal, Kyriaco, and keynote speaker Drew Wakefield, followed by performances by bagpiper Bill Boetticher, singer Dorothy Turner, and buglers Robert Burness and Howard Hudson.
Kyriaco focused on the themes of sacrifice and community, encouraging others to be kinder and more united with each other.
“Memorial Day is supposed to be a time of reflection, and today I reflect on the fact that we have some work to do,” Kyriaco said. “Think about the world that they left behind, think about the world that they would have wanted to have been part of today, and think to yourselves — is this the best we can do, or could we do better?”
Meanwhile, Wakefield spoke on the real meaning of Memorial Day, and the importance of honoring and remembering those who sacrificed their lives while serving.
“Memorial Day is not about a Toyota Sellathon, it’s not about Mattress Mike’s discounts, it’s not about all the ads in the newspapers, it’s not about all the barbecues and the beach parties,” Wakefield said. “It is about honoring, memorializing, remembering, telling the story, showing the picture of the brave service men and women that paid the ultimate price.”
He encouraged people to share pictures of their loved ones, and to tell their stories, especially today.
“What’s the value that we put on the men and women that sacrificed and gave up their lives? To me, that’s priceless. To me, you cannot put a dollar value on that,” Wakefield said. “That is why we need to continue to remember each and every one of them that served. … Remember, because of them — and, of course, because of our great veterans — we live in a free country.”
Before the service ended with a rifle salute and performance of “Taps,” retired Command Sergeant Major Jonathan M. Church and U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Mark Thies recognized local service members who were killed in action.
“Since 1775, well over a million give their lives in the defense of freedom,” Church said. “Their link is their courage, their selfless service, and the ultimate sacrifice to this country. I believe their lives are the fabric that binds this country together. … We must never forget honoring what they stood for.”
— Noozhawk staff writer Serena Guentz can be reached at sguentz@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
