The Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation (PCVF) and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1649 will honor those who gave the greatest sacrifice for their country at their annual Memorial Day ceremony.
The free open-air ceremony starts at 11 a.m. sharp on Monday, May 25 at the Santa Barbara Cemetery, 901 Channel Drive.
Attendees are encouraged to arrive early for the 11 a.m. start. Note, there is no handicap parking available at the site, and dogs are not permitted.
Held near the main flagpole (with ample seating), the event features a lineup of presentations and performances, including the UCSB ROTC Color Guard, Gold Coast Pipe & Drum Band, David Gonzales and the Santa Barbara Choral Society, and The Prime Time Band.
Concluding the ceremony, there will be a flyover by The Condor Squadron.
This year’s keynote speaker is Rear Adm. John Weigold (USN, ret.). A 1984 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Weigold’s distinguished 33-year career included commanding seven Reserve units and serving as the deputy commander for both the U.S. Seventh Fleet in Japan and the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
A recipient of the Defense Superior Service Medal and four Legions of Merit, he retired in 2017 and now lives in Santa Barbara. He serves as a faculty member and lecturer at Yale University’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs.
“Memorial Day stands as a timeless tribute to honor those who sacrificed everything for our nation,” said Lt. John Blankenship (USN, former), a VFW Lifetime member and PCVF co-founder.
“We invite the community to join us as we pay homage to their courage, reflect on their service, and renew our commitment to upholding the values they fought to defend,” he said.
For more, visit https://www.pcvf.org/memorial-day-ceremony.
Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation is committed to honoring the men and women who have served in uniform at any time.
PCVF does this by supporting veterans and active duty members, and related partner organizations, in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, as well as preserving military history and legacy.
PCVF works to uphold Pierre Claeyssens’ vision that those who have served are “Never Forgotten.” PCVF is funded entirely by private donations. For more, visit pcvf.org.