Memorial Day in San Francisco was a celebration of peace. Although the official ceremonies at the San Francisco National Cemetery at the Presidio included military personnel, both active duty and retired, the theme presented by speaker after speaker was our urgent and essential need for peace and the end of war. It was the way Memorial Day should be celebrated.
Mayor Gavin Newsom introduced the theme of peace and an end to war. That message continued with brief addresses by Supervisor Fiona Ma, Speaker of the California State Assembly Leland Yee and Congressman Tom Lantos.
Major General Bruce Zukauskas, Commanding Officer of the 91st Division, U.S. Army Reserve reminded us all that peace is our objective and that freedom has never been free. From our nation's beginning we have paid for our freedom and our liberty.
Commander Chris Peterschmidt, Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Pinckney and dozens of members of his crew, all in dress whites, provided a special salute to San Francisco and to our veterans, living and dead. The Pinckney was named after Navy Cook Third Class William Pinckney, an African-American who received the Navy Cross for his efforts while onboard the U.S.S. Enterprise during the Battle of Santa Cruz. The Pinckney was docked at San Francisco for the day and returned Tuesday morning to San Diego. The U.S.S. Pinckney is an Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer commissioned May 29, 2004.
The Pleasanton Community Concert Band under the direction of Bob Williams, provided music for the ceremony which was conducted at the National Cemetery at the Presidio overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay.
Local officials present included San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera, Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White, Police Chief Heather Fong, Assessor Phil Ting, Supervisor Sean Elsbernd and former Supervisor Sue Bierman.
Also present were Consul General of the Republic of Korea Sang-Ki Chung, 23rd Marine Corps Regiment Commander Colonel Timothy Hunter, and the man who has lead the Memorial Day celebration for many years, Wallace Levin.
(photo courtesy of San Francisco Chronicle photographer Brant Ward)
1 comments:
I noticed that Supervsior Chris Daly was absent. That damn fool was probably at some anarchist barbecue someplace. I also noticed you didn't mention that Steve Westly was at the ceremony. I guess you figured his visit was just an opportunistic kind of thing for him. I don't ever recall seeing him there before ... or anywhere else for that matter ... until he decided to run for governor. But then again, I don't remember seeing Phil Angelides anywhere locally either ... until he decided to run for governor. We sure as hell don't have much to choose from this election.
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