COLUSA COUNTY (MPG) – Memorial Day ceremonies were held throughout Colusa County on Monday to remember those who lost their lives while serving in the nation’s military.
Although fewer people attended than in years past, the heartfelt tributes, a bugler playing “Taps,” the volley of gunfire, and hundreds of American Flags fluttering in the breeze signified the observances remain an essential role in remembering military sacrifice.
Local veterans played a significant role in all five ceremonies to honor the men and women who gave their all to defend American values.
In Williams, Cemetery Board President Dawn Nissan thanked the crowd for remembering that Memorial Day is about honoring those killed in service to the country and not just a three-day holiday weekend and the unofficial launch of summer.
“This day is in honor of those who paid in life and blood, whose moms never saw them again, whose dads wept in silence, whose wives raised children alone, and children who only remember the parents that were lost from pictures,” Nissen said. “This isn’t simply a day off. This is a day to remember that others paid for every free breath you ever get to take for your freedom.”
In Maxwell, Vietnam veteran Terry Deland, in delivering the Memorial Day address, noted the decline in patriotism over the past six decades and expressed concern that faith in government eroded from the failures in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
Deland said he also feared the country is not teaching younger generations what the human cost has been for the freedom they enjoy every day.
“We no longer talk about the history of the Civil War or what happened at Gettysburg,” Deland said. “We no longer talk about World War I, and the last of our World War II veterans are dying out…and Vietnam Veterans are not going to be around much longer. Is anybody going to be around to tell the future generations about honorable service and serving with dignity? Well, I simply leave it as an open question.”
Members of the Maxwell American Legion Post No. 218 and Colusa Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2441 served as the honor guard, making their way from Colusa to Williams to Maxwell, where they proudly honored those killed in military service with a vast display of flags and a three-volley gun salute at each location. Zach Dennis performed “Taps.”
The Williams Cemetery Board of Directors organized the ceremony in Williams, where Gold Star Mother Gloria Estrada, whose son Rueben Lopez was killed in Afghanistan in 2010, laid a wreath in honor of the unknown soldier. Danielle Tucker performed the National Anthem, and the Williams Cadet Corps served as the honor guard.
At the Maxwell Cemetery, where the Maxwell American Legion Auxiliary organizes the annual tradition, Irene Felix laid the wreath for the unknown soldier. A quartet, composed of local music teachers Ron Rector and Don Joel, and pastors Ken Edwards and Jason McMullen, sang the National Anthem, after Auxiliary Vice-President Bonji Immoos gave the welcome. The Pierce High School band performed patriotic music.
Both ceremonies served as reminders of the true meaning of Memorial Day, honoring the sacrifices of American service members and the enduring values of courage, commitment, and community.