Chaplain Ken Walden, 452 AMW, offers the invocation during the Memorial Day ceremony at the Riverside National Cemetery. Some 10,000 people were present for the event. March provided a C-17 fly over, honor guard and an Airman to read the Airman’s Creed. The California Army National Guard supplied a rifle and canon salute and the UC-Riverside Bagpipe Band played Amazing Grace. (U.S. Air Force photos by Mrs. Walden)
Retired Army Col. Lewis Millett, Medal of Honor Recipient, offers his thoughts on the tribute. Colonel Millett, who was a captain at the time, received the Medal of Honor in 1951 for leading an uphill bayonet charge against enemy forces during the Korean War. (U.S. Air Force photos by Mrs. Walden)
Congressman Ken Calvert is presented with a U.S. flag after the flag folding ceremony by the California Army National Guard. He was the keynote speaker. The flag symbolized all the men and women who were buried in the cemetery. The 1st Marine Division Band Brass Quintet played the National Anthem and Taps during the ceremony. The Master of Ceremonies was author Tom Ruck, who wrote “Sacred Ground: A Tribute to America’s Veterans.” The book highlights 47 national cemeteries across the United States. Army Maj. Gen. Mike Schweiger, who served as deputy commanding general for support of American forces during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, represented the U.S. military members. (U.S. Air Force photos by Mrs. Walden)