Dixon Holds Memorial Day Observance[Dixon Veterans News - May 31, 2004] AA bright and sunny day greeted Dixon's citizens who turned out to honor their fallen veterans on this 2004 Memorial Day holiday. The ceremonies started at the Dixon War Memorial at the corner of C and 1st streets. At 10 AM, a color guard of members of Dixon's American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars (Tony Chavez, Mark Richards, Mike Brown, Tammy Cueva, and Roger Schaller) posted the American Flag and the American Legion and VFW flags at the site. American Legion Post 208 Chaplain Ray Lein led the assembled audience in an invocation. Post 208 Commander William Allard and VFW Post 8151 Commander Brock McMahon said a few words to remember Dixon's fallen veterans Ceremonies then moved to Silveyville cemetery on the south side of Dixon. There are 573 veterans buried at Silveyville as well at 12 at Tremont cemetery, and an unknown number at the Maine Prairie cemetery. After a prayer by former Post 208 Chaplain Lloyd Ash, Commander Allard, laid a wreath on the grave to honor the fallen unknown soldier. The grave contains the remains of an unknown civil war soldier. The honors concluded with a ceremony at the veterans memorial flag at the southwest corner of the cemetery. An invocation and commemoration was given by past Post 208 Chaplain Lloyd Ash and the names of recent war fatalities from Solano and Yolo Counties were read. A wreath was placed at the flag by Army Sergeant Ronald Crouch, a Dixon Resident and National Guard member of the California Center for Military History and Doris Kilkenny, President of the Unit 208 American Legion Auxiliary. A firing detail of members of both Legion and VFW post members (Mike Hagerman, Tony Chavez, Sandy Sanders, Mike Brown, Bill Fairfield, Roger Schaller, and Ed Bartosh) presented a 21-round rifle salute that was followed by the playing of "Taps." Commander Allard lowered the flag to half-staff. Commander Allard gave closing remarks and thanked those who attended the ceremony and invited them to a reception afterwards at the Veterans Memorial Hall in Dixon catered by the American Legion Auxiliary. At the reception, World War II veterans were presented a Certificate of Appreciation in thanks for their service and sacrifices and in commemoration the dedication of the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC. Recognized were Dan Choy, William Fairfield, Robert Gill, Bud Hallam, Jean Johnston, Ray Lein, Lionel Morin, Bernard Sanders, Allen Sawyer, and Donald Webb. The VFW Post 8151 would also like to thank the citizens of Dixon for their generous donations to the "Buddy Poppy" program this weekend at the Pitt School Road Safeway. Donations are used only to support veterans' welfare and the well being of their families. For more information on Dixon Veterans organizations and their activities, visit their web site at www.DixonVeterans.org. Pictures by Ed Bartosh and Kevin Kilkenny. (click on a picture to enlarge it)
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