Sam Spade's San Francisco

Notice: For information about Memorial Day 2008 at the Presidio, follow the link to: Memorial Day San Francisco 2008 at the Presidio.

- - - - - - -

It was an absolutely perfect day. The sun was shining and a gentle ocean breeze continually bathed us in cool and sea-fresh air. The location was spectacular: the San Francisco National Cemetery at the Presidio. The 27-acre cemetery is located where the Pacific Ocean meets San Francisco Bay at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge. It is one of the most beautiful and magnificent spots on Earth.

Photo of the 91st Division Color Guard and ceremony courtesy of Brian Lum

Lieutenant Colonel Wallace Levin (Ret) of the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Commission has been the driving force and all-around hero of the celebration for many years. I don't think there is a single veteran in San Francisco who doesn't know, respect and deeply appreciate Wally Levin. This year, as every year, Wally was the Master of Ceremonies.

The colors were presented by the Color Guard of the 91st Division, U.S. Army Reserve. The 91st Infantry Division (variously nicknamed as the "Pine Tree Division" or "Wild West Division") is a unit of the United States Army that fought in World War I and World War II. Since 1946, it has been a part of the U.S. Army Reserve. Its current name is the 91st Division (Training Support).

In its 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) recommendations, the Department of Defense recommended relocating the 91st Division to Fort Hunter Liggett. The 4 Brigades of the 91st Division have been redesignated as separate brigades:

• 1st Brigade (Camp Parks) is now 5th Brigade, 75th Division.
• 2nd Brigade (Fort Carson) is now 5th Armored Brigade.
• 3rd Brigade (Hunter Liggett) is now the 402nd Field Artillery Brigade.
• 4th Brigade (Fort Lewis) is now 191st Infantry Brigade.

For much of its life the 91st Division was headquartered at the Presidio and the 91st has a long and rich history in San Francisco. Many San Franciscans have fought, and many of them died, in service to our country through the 91st Division.



Thank you to these wonderful and fine organizations for their support for our 2007 Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony:
The American Legion
AMVETS
Disabled American Veterans
Jewish War Veterans USA
Marine Corps League
Military Order of the Purple Heart
Veterans Affairs Commission
Veterans of Foreign Wars

Thanks also to:
Major General Bruce Zukauskas, Commanding officer of the 91st Division,
Colonel Richard Mollica, 91st Division Chief of staff,
CW2 Richard Servantez, 91st Division Band,
MSG Stan Kamiya, 91st Division Color Guard,
Craig Middleton, Executive Director of the Presidio Trust,
Brian O'Neill, GGNRA Superintendent,
Major Gerald McCarthy & Sergeant Michael Falzone, U.S. Park Police,
Theresa Griggs, Supervisory Park Ranger,
and a very special thank you to:
The Pleasanton Community Concert Band and to
H.R. "Bob" Williams, conductor, Pleasanton Community Concert Band

Most particularly, thank you to everyone who attended and by so doing, showed respect and admiration for the men and women of the United States military who laid down their lives for the country they so dearly loved.